The controversial Australian street artist behind an “offensive” Hillary Clinton mural in Footscray West says he may repaint it as a “beautiful Muslim woman”.
Maribyrnong Council is seeking advice from Victoria Police on whether it has the power to remove a mural by Lushsux featuring the US presidential nominee wearing a minimal stars and stripes swimsuit.
The mural was painted with permission on the exterior of a business called Mr Mobility, which sells wheelchairs and scooters.
However, the council asked the business to take it down after receiving complaints while awaiting legal clarification.
Lushsux told The Age that following the furore, he had thought about painting over Clinton with a burqa but then had another idea.
“I think it would be better to repaint it as a beautiful Muslim woman,” he said.
“No one could be offended by that.
“If you were, you would be a racist, bigot, Islamophobic and xenophobic.
“I think it’s most likely the best way to fix the problem with the council, because it would not know what to do.”
Lushsux, whose Instagram account was deleted after he posted a photo of his Clinton mural, said his next artwork might be another one of Clinton’s presidential rival, Donald Trump.
Lushsux also explained the rationale behind the unflattering Clinton artwork.
“It was already a Photoshopped meme that had been going around for a long time,” he said.
“Thought it would be good fun on a wall.”
Maribyrnong councillor Sarah Carter said repainting the current “grubby” artwork as a beautiful Muslim woman was “a lovely idea”.
“Here’s hoping the beautiful Muslim woman isn’t holding a cross that is in flames,” she said.
“We have to be very careful about censorship because at the end of the day ... where is the line drawn?
“There’s a fine line between becoming art critics or whether it is actually offensive.
“I’m not one for censorship of the arts but whether it’s Hillary or any woman, I find it highly offensive: highly sexualised and it’s inappropriate.
“It’s pretty confronting when you drive down that street. I just find it pretty tacky.
“Obviously, councillors will have opinions and I expect it [the council] would be divided because we do pride ourselves on being an artsy, edgy city.”