Vienna removed mural: respect for victims of sexual violence

Vienna removed mural: respect for victims of sexual violence

In the Mariahilf district in Vienna, a controversial murals are removed after an application for all parties represented in the municipal council was accepted. This is done as a sign of respect for victims of sexual violence. The artist, whose work has been on a fire wall since 1997, was sentenced as a sex offender in 2003, with the crimes apparently committed during photo shoots.

The large -format surreal painting on the corner of Magdalenenstraße/Hofmühlgasse has recently been criticized. Not only political factions, but also the feminist Initiative Ni Una Menos Austria demanded the removal of the work of art. At first, an artistic competition for the redesign of the murals was planned, but this was considered too time -consuming. The decision to make the redesign or distance immediately shows that quick action was considered necessary.

political reactions to the decision

The family spokeswoman for the Vienna People's Party, Silvia Janoch, said satisfied about the decision because she referred to a delay by the SPÖ and Neos. "Women who were abused under the pretext of art have made their experiences public. It became clear that a mural of a convicted sex offender has no place in Vienna," she emphasized.

The Greens regarded the unanimous decision as an important step against perpetrators. Viktoria Spielmann, the green women's spokeswoman, emphasized that this was a sign of respect for the victims of sexual violence. A petition, which was submitted by several organizations, also supported the demand for removal of the painting.

The measures to remove the painting make it clear that the city of Vienna is willing to set a clear sign against sexualized violence. This decision is not only symbolic, but also shows a change in the public perception of art created by stressed artists. The exact next steps to implement this distance remain to be waiting for as www.kleinezeitung.at. reports .