Snoopy at a stormwater creek bridge in Turner. Photo: Mosaic MOFOS, Instagram.
They’re winning the attention of bikies and tempting motorists to do semi-legal things by snapping photos of them.
Chances are you’ve seen at least one of these artworks around Canberra – mosaics of characters from all sorts of universes, all painstakingly crafted from small, individual coloured tiles.
There’s Snoopy, Wally, Mr Bump from the Mr Men series and Tardis from Dr Who, all ranging in size from small hand-sized figures to the size of a small child.
The location comes into it too, because in the case of one mosaic next to the Belco Skatepark sign, Snoopy is depicted skating.
Snoopy, this time practicing his moves at the Belco Skatepark. Photo: Mosaic MOFOS, Instagram.
“Mosaic MOFOS” on Instagram describes themselves as an “art collective based in Canberra, Australia, creating mosaic mayhem”.
They don’t stop in Canberra either.
A link on their Instagram bio takes you to a full Google Map of “all the Mofo’d locations” – including those in Melbourne, Sydney, Merimbula and Ulladulla on the South Coast, Newcastle and Forster, but also even overseas, in Iceland, Florida, Wales and Japan.
These include an emu, cockatoo and magpie on an already heavily graffitied wall in Japan, “Iceland Viking Puffin”, and “Fish” in Wales.
A US mural artist created a video about how he’d come across the account’s “Aussie Aussie Aussie” work while preparing to paint a mural in Miama Beach, Florida.
“I found these mosaics sticked to the wall while cleaning,” Ignacio Mariño Larrique said in the video.
“I look up their work and found is an Australian artist … Taking care of other artists means taking care of myself too. This was just in the right place and at the right time so I decided to keep it as part of the mural.”
The Florida mural artist going to great pains to preserve Mosaic MOFOS work. Photo: Mosaic MOFOS, Instagram
However, it seems some of the Canberra artworks have been painted over, including one in a stormwater channel bridge in Turner, depicting Snoopy looking up at a blue love heart.
“Canberra may be beige but I didn’t think they’d be so literal about it,” the account wrote in a post about another of its mosaics being painted over.
But the rest of the feedback is overwhelmingly positive.
“Chatting to a friend who saw a group of bikies stopping, getting off their bikes and taking selfies with your art. He said it was hilarious seeing these ‘leathered up, huge men being fan girls’ over your work,” one comment, shared to their Instagram account, reads.
The ACT Government denies they’re actively painting over the works. Photo: Mosaic MOFOS, Instagram.
“So you have made a dull place a tourist attraction for all ages and walks of life.”
“Your little mosaic bombs brighten my day, everyday,” another comment reads.
“I bloody love seeing these all over Canberra! Keep up the good work you champions!!!!”, says another.
“I was stuck in peak hour traffic after a particularly awful day and saw your 4th Doctor mosaic at Caswell/Gungahlin Dr overpass on Belconnen Way and my day suddenly became amazing and I was smiling all the way home!!”
The person (or people) behind the account declined an interview with Region, preferring to remain anonymous, but in posts says these sorts of reactions are “exactly why we do it”.
As for the ACT Government, who owns most of the infrastructure assets the mosaics are stuck to? It has no plans to remove them.
“We have not received any community enquiries requesting action on these mosaic artworks,” a spokesperson told Region.
“The ACT Government has no intention to remove this style of mosaic artwork at this stage, providing it is not offensive and it does not damage public assets.
“From time to time, paint may get on the mosaics when tagging or unauthorised graffiti is being removed.”
Sesame Street characters along Belconnen Way. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
However, it does caution others against following suit.
“Applying artwork in locations such as under road bridges on main roads is discouraged because it can put the safety of the artist and the public at risk,” the spokesperson added.
“The ACT Government would prefer artists utilise legal graffiti practice walls where there is guidance published to members of the public and artists.
“We also advise artists to seek permission from the asset owner (in this case the ACT Government) to display their artwork otherwise they are technically unauthorised street art/graffiti.”
Here he is. Photo: Mosaic MOFOS, Instagram.
The government said Mosaic MOFOS would be welcome to discuss “opportunities and locations” for further works with its “graffiti management coordinator, who manages a free Street Arts Directory.
“The Directory is used by private and public wall owners to choose artists for funded murals when programs and private or community funding is available.”
More information on the location of the ACT’s legal graffiti practice walls can be found on the City Services website.
