This time last year, Mamafaka was at the top of his form and preparing to be featured in an international collaboration of street artists in Buk Ruk, the first festival of its type in Bangkok.
In September, the 34-year-old street artist born Pharuephon Mukdasanit nearly drowned after jumping into waters off Phuket, fell into a coma and died.
Today his fans are outraged that one of his best-known murals, “Mr. Hell Yeah” created for Buk Ruk near the BTS Ratchathewi station, got “bombed” by a street crew called 043crew.
“The person who did this just wanted to find a way to fame because he doesn’t have talent,” wrote Dudesweet’s Note Pongsuang on Facebook this morning. Note called on Mamafaka fans to join him at 4pm tomorrow to cover 043crew’s work with black paint to give proper closure to Mamafaka’s work.
“I feel sorry about this,” he said. “We don’t have much art in this country, and the young kids ruin art instead of bringing something new.”
Arists involved with the street art festival were more philosophical.
“One of the key spots from Buk Ruk festival is now covered,” said Gabriel Camelin, a Silpakorn University instructor who worked on the Buk Ruk project. “The streets take it all at the end.”
Work created in a public space is always temporary, and the changes to the street canvas are opportunities for discussion, according to Daan Botlek, a Dutch artist featured in Buk Ruk.
“Without this attack, the mural would probably in a while just fade away and be forgotten,” he said. “Now it’s actual again. … I just think that each reaction to anything is an opportunity to do or create something new. Things evolve, and you better enjoy it, I guess.”
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Mamafaka poses before his completed project, “Mr. Hell Yeah” Photo: Mamafaka Studio, Facebook
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An announcement posted on Facebook this morning callsfor volunteers to paint over the defaced mural this afternoon.
Correction: This article has been corrected to reflect the correct date of plans to re-cover Mamafaka’s mural. It is tomorrow, Wednesday.
Related:
Photo Essay: Street Art of Bangkok
Fans mourn death of ‘MR.HELLYEAH!’ creator and graphic designer Mamafaka
