An artist is facing a police investigation following a mural he painted honouring Australian cricket legend Shane Warne.
The work depicts the widely adored sports figure in a suit and sunglasses and was painted on a brick wall on Canning Street in Carlton, Melbourne. Warne was 52 when he died of natural causes while holidaying on the island of Ko Samui in Thailand.
“So I usually cover the vandalism with my murals,” Jarrod Grech told news.com.au , adding his Warne piece covered a tribute to late American rapper DMX that previously occupied the space. "I’ve never had a problem there, I’ve been painting that wall for years."
Grech also detailed the wall on which he painted the Warne mural is next to an 'abandoned heritage listed home'. "I think the police told the owner I was doing graffiti though, not that I was doing a mural," he added.
Victoria Police said officers were called to the Carlton location on the morning of March 30 following reports of graffiti. Two police cars pulled up and officers alerted Grech to the situation he is facing, despite arguing that his work is to "inspire kids and to help stop them covering walls with vandalism."
Grech added that he has previously been endorsed by the City of Melbourne. “I’ve spoken to them [city lawmakers] before and they always have my back, they say ‘we’ll cover the vandalism and leave your murals,’” Grech alleged. "With the Warnie one, they said they could clear coat it for me so when it gets vandalised, it can get pressure hosed off.”
A City of Melbourne spokesperson said they were aware Grech had painted in that area before but failed to confirm whether his claims of council approval were accurate. Their statement reminded the site was "ultimately private property", and now a police investigation is ongoing.
He's been summoned to attend Melbourne West Police Station for an interview with their 'graffiti-tasking team'. Grech has shared a video via Instagram of him being interviewed on Australian radio regarding the situation.
Grech's previous works include the likes of Bruce Lee, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tupac Shakur and Kobe Bryant. An even larger mural of Warne was painted in March by artist Callum Hotham at the Paddington RSL, not far from the Australian's former fortress, the Sydney Cricket Ground.
