AI mural inspired by Banksy sparks backlash in Bristol

The useful part

Artists spot wrong landmarks and a bizarre version of the famous Mild Mild West as debate over AI art grows. The artwork was generated using AI and printed onto vinyl before being placed on the Jolly Colliers pub in Bedminster. It features Bristol landmarks, including the Cabot Tower and the SS Great Britain.

How it works

• According to Bristol24/7, a spokesperson said the mural was a "temporary measure due to the condition of the external wall" and that the company planned to work with local artists and the community on a...
• In 2020, The Art Newspaper reported on an AI project called GANksy, which generated images designed to resemble the anonymous British street artist's work.
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What to take from it

Even the Banksy reference was wrong The most noticeable problem may be the reference to Banksy. Artists say the problem goes beyond bad details Caroline Maggs of the Bristol Mural Collective criticised the decision to use AI rather than commission a local artist. Look a little closer, though, and the problems start to appear.

Example or evidence

• His Mild Mild West, created in Bristol, is known for its teddy bear throwing a petrol bomb at riot police.
• Bristol24/7 reported that Cabot Tower was incorrectly depicted, while the SS Great Britain looked more like a smaller tugboat.
• For a city whose visual identity is so closely tied to street art, those mistakes were hard to ignore.
• An unsigned note was also reportedly attached to the pub, accusing those behind the mural of failing to respect Bristol's creative community.

Details worth keeping

It also appears to reference Banksy's famous Mild Mild West. The AI mural instead showed a strange one-legged figure pointing. Other parts of the image also raised eyebrows.

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