Mick Hartley

Every time I go past the bottom lock on the Hertford Union Canal there's some new artwork up. Back in June it was Lichtenstein. That soon disappeared. This photo was taken at the end of August, and already Lichtenstein was a distant memory:

I had a brief chat a few weeks back. (Not with those two above.) It was the middle of September. A couple of guys were rolling grey paint over the wall. I thought for a minute they might be official – this was soon after the Banksy incident on Stoke Newington Church Street – and it was part of some Hackney Council clean-up drive. But no, they were laying the groundwork for a new piece. "They don't last long", I said. "No, well, it's these kids…"  

Here's what they were preparing for….

Asterix…

and Obelix…

….in "Dark Forms":

Yes, that's the remains of poor Lichtenstein at the top there.

Did this one last long….? Well, one week later:

If I read this right, it's a war between the comic/pop art faction (Lichtenstein, Asterix, etc.) and another lot ("these kids") who put up the smaller more familiar street-art style pieces.

And today, well, the comic faction strike back – and this time they mean business:

 

Witty, I think…and well done. I hope the other lot take it in the spirit it's intended, and fill in those wanted posters rather than obliterate the whole piece.

Watch this space.

[Some photos from April here]