McDonald’s Commissions New Art To Fix Beloved City Mural It Painted Over

McDonald’s says it was unaware of the cultural significance of an iconic mural it painted over to make way for burger advertising in Butetown, Cardiff, and has now ordered for the original artist to fill in the space again.

The fast-food chain left locals in disbelief as it had workers wipe out a painted version of a photo by artist Shawqi Hasson at Mischief’s Café Bar at James Street. The image was captured for a photography project, entitled My City, My Shirt, with collaborator Yusuf Ismail. It depicts a woman named Maimuna Yoncana, who moved to the city from Guinea-Bissau in West Africa five years ago, and aims to promote diversity and acceptance.

Ismail said he spotted the woman during a coffee run. Yoncana was heavily pregnant then, and agreed to be photographed despite not fully understanding what the project was about. “I was rambling,” Ismail told The National Wales when the mural surfaced last spring. 

“We’re both Black, but there are all these subtle nuances to Black skin,” Ismail added. “She was just glowing.”

Well, the worst thing you can imagine is happening right now to the best mural in Cardiff. Covered up for a burger ad. Please contact us @McDonalds so we can salvage some good for the amazing young people of our city. pic.twitter.com/yBGjRcfzOp

— Cathy Owens (@cathy_owens) January 22, 2022

Needless to say, people weren’t lovin’ it when McDonald’s converted the space into an advertising spot with its brand agency. Stephen Doughty, Cardiff South and Penarth Minister of Parliament, called out the company for the move. “I could not be more unimpressed with McDonald’s UK—staggeringly insensitive,” Economy Minister Vaughan Gething also lamented.

The BBC reports that the treasured piece of art has been regarded as “Cardiff’s Mona Lisa.”

Following complaints on social media, McDonald’s confirms that it is walking back on the activation and is working with the mural’s artists to repaint the wall. It adds that the art had already been vandalized prior to its takeover, so there were already plans by the creators to restore it.

Hi Stephen - the site was hired by a third party working with the artist who painted the original mural. We were unaware of what was on the site prior to our installation and have instructed the artist to repaint his original mural immediately.

— McDonald's UK (@McDonaldsUK) January 22, 2022

However, the BBC notes that it’s unclear if McDonald’s will bring back the old artwork or commission a different piece.

Ismail says the advertising agency that removed the mural knew what the art meant to the community but was “dismissive,” so it’s a relief to learn that McDonald’s is “really keen to resolve this issue and we understand this is an oversight.”

“It’s part of our legacy as a city, showing how multicultural Cardiff is and we're glad that McDonald’s [has] recognized that,” elaborates Ismail.

[via BBC and The National Wales, images via various sources]