Fate of Phuket mural to be decided April 22

The painting, on a side wall of the old Standard Chartered Bank Building on the corner of Phang Nga and Phuket roads, and done by street artist Pattcharapon ‘Alex Face’ Tangreun, was completed on Saturday (Apr 9), and following its completion, local residents took to social media to either severely criticise or praise the design.

Following posts about the painting going viral, Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana held a meeting this morning as a number of local residents said that it should be removed immediately.

Speaking at the meeting today, Mayor Somjai said the building where the mural has appeared is currently in the process of being renovated and that renovations will be complete in June.

“We apologies for making people unhappy. Thank you for caring this building,” she said.

“We will hold a public hearing on April 22 to reach a decision as to whether the painting stays or goes,” she added.

It is purported that the painting is part of project by a group called “So Phuket” entitled “F.A.T. Phuket” (Food Art Old Town) and is aimed at inspiring more people to visit the Phuket Town area.

The mural shows Alex Face’s signature imaginary character, a toddler-rabbit hybrid, holding a lunch box and wearing a traditional BaBa broach and depicts a contrast between Phuket Old Town’s architecture and modern artwork with the theme of Phuket's food scene.