They called him the ‘Burley Banksy’ after Andy McVeigh decided to sprinkle a little colour in the drab urban landscape by ‘Leedsing up’ electrical boxes and bollards around Elland Road.
In the often mundanity of urban living, McVeigh’s repainting of the everyday roadside ornaments brought a dash of colour and sparkle of life. They became transformed from simple roadside ornaments, taking on a different aspect and light.
They quickly went viral across Leeds United-focused Twitter, fans waxing lyrical about the iconic moments from Leeds United’s past that were being represented. However, not all were enamoured to the brightening up of Leeds’ urban landscape and prime amongst those are Leeds Residents Against Graffiti (LRAG).
Their stance against McVeigh’s artwork was uncovered earlier this week after 14 of his artworks were covered over in black paint by the group. this mass cover-up followed on from two instances where red paint was used to deface the Leeds United installations.
LRAG sent an email to the Yorkshire Evening Post (YEP) claiming responsibility and setting forth their agenda of direct action. The gist of their motives can be summarised simply as taking a stance against what they see as the blight that McVeigh is causing.
The covering up of the artworks was bad enough, the fact that they daubed black paint over the piece commemorating Gary Speed, this piece being defaced on what would have been the former Leeds United midfielder’s birthday. The outcry from that has prompted LRAG to send a further email to the YEP.
Big statements in their rebuttal and defence claims are that “90% of the population [of Leeds] aren’t bothered about Leeds United” and “Unfortunately this man [McVeigh] seems to have a narrow vision restricted solely to his own LUFC agenda.” It is safe to say that this was enough of a spark in a dry tinderbox to create a flame.
Yet, they amplified this somewhat, in the eyes of some Leeds fans, by their comments regarding Gary Speed. Whilst admitting the timing was poor in defacing his tribute, they protested their innocence in not knowing who Gary Speed was as they weren’t football fans. The cherry-on-top of their justification was the following: “If the best memorial to a man’s life is to stencil a junction box, then that is a pretty poor sort of memorial don’t you think?”
Here’s the reply of some Leeds United fans on Twitter to the YEP’s publication of the story today.
Leeds United fans respond in anger to graffiti group claims
When Leeds won the title in 92, 500,000 turned out in Leeds on the day to celebrate. Vast majority were locals lining the parade route. #showyourfaces
— Northern Lifer (@northernlifer) September 12, 2019
Merely highlighting further their serious lack of local knowledge and history. Track them down and get them charged with vandalism.
— thestraw (@gjengland) September 12, 2019
Well done to “Leeds against graffiti” or whatever you’re called. While I would expect the vast majority would be sympathetic to what you’d assume is your mission from your name, you’ve forever delegitimised your work for acting in such a poor manner. It’s art you alone don’t like
— Liam Gray Esq.,💙💛 (@li4mlufc) September 12, 2019
This typifies what is wrong with our city 4 yes that’s 4 people decide to censor local art. What has diversity, gender, religion got to do with art?? graffiti or a work by Michelangelo it is what it is….art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder 2 words grow up.
— STUART WILSON (@wilsosd) September 12, 2019
This attitude typifies today’s society, they object to it so they destroy it irrespective of anyone else’s views, they are 4 yet they mention 40,000 Leeds fans, who elected them the guardians of the people? They talk of art for gender equality, how is that more representative??
— Derek Sutherland 💙💛 (@delsuth) September 12, 2019