It might be a case of "be careful what you wish for" for those who campaigned four years ago to have a mural on the side of a building at Miranda painted over because it "degraded women".
Following a storm early this year, which caused a piece of fibreboard covering an unused window to be painted over, the artwork has undergone a major transformation, which may be seen as even worse.
The "wicked women" is now depicted in two poses sporting a beard and moustache, and wearing a mask in the third.
The words "It's only art" are painted across the mural, which is on the side of the Ferrari Formal Wear building in Karimbla Road, near the train station and Westfield complex.
The objections four years ago were based on the woman smoking and holding a glass.
There was passionate debate on social media and online petitions for and against.
The building owner said at the time the mural had succeeded in deterring graffiti.
Previously, the wall was a graffiti hot spot.
The matter was even considered serious enough to be put to a vote at a meeting of Sutherland Shire Council in April 2021.
Councillors voted 8-4 against a motion, drawn up by political rivals Cr Kent Johns and Cr Barry Collier, seeking to have the mural painted over because of distress caused to women who had been victims of violence.
The motion stated "some distress is being felt by members of our community, particularly those impacted by traumatic events regarding violence against women".
It called on the council to "write to the owner of the building and respectfully request the mural be removed".
Cr Johns said residents found the mural "quite confrontational and is triggering with them some major issues".
"Being in the public domain and such a prominent location exacerbates that problem tenfold."
Cr Collier said the images were "demeaning, derogatory and completely insulting to women".
Cr Carmelo Pesce said the woman owner of the building did not find the artwork offensive and the head of a domestic violence community group told him she did not think the mural represented that issue.
Cr Pesce said the mural subject "could have had a big night or been going to a fancy dress party".
Murray Trembath
St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reporter covering politics, urban affairs, council, development and general community news. Email: mtrembath@theleader.com.au
St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reporter covering politics, urban affairs, council, development and general community news. Email: mtrembath@theleader.com.au
