Artist may have legal right to save mural
Banbury Station Mural
A row is brewing over whether a mural marking the 150th anniversary of Banbury station is the original.
Artist Nigel Fletcher, who was commissioned by Chiltern Railways to paint the picture in 2001, is considering using intellectual property rights law to save the mural which the rail company wants to destroy to make way for a Costa Coffee shop.
The law, giving artists rights over their public work, was used to prevent destruction of a piece by the graffiti artist, Banksy.
But Chiltern said this week the work is not an original but a copy. Its reaction has angered Mr Fletcher and the Banbury Civic Society.
“It certainly isn’t a copy! The smaller painting was made as a design to show what I intended to do,” said Mr Fletcher.
“While I was up the scaffolding working on it there was a lot of interest from travellers. Many were pleasantly surprised the railway was so supportive of the arts and was willing to give something like this to the people of Banbury.
“It seems a shame something which has obviously given pleasure to many for so long should be torn down to make way for a coffee shop.” Banbury Civic Society chairman Rob Kinchin-Smith said: “It’s like saying the Sistine Chapel ceiling is ‘a reproduction’ because Michael Angelo first painted a small-scale draft to work from!
“Many of the world’s most famous artists produced multiple copies of their paintings. The mural is original art.”
Chad Collins of Chiltern Railways said: “The mural is not the original piece of art but was projected on to the building and painted to replicate the original. However, we are doing everything we can to accommodate people’s views about the future of the mural. We are committed to making the station a pleasant environment for passengers and will be continue to work closely with Nigel Fletcher and Banbury Civic Society as we carry out this vital improvement.”
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Weather for Banbury
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
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Temperature: 3 C to 15 C
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