Mural of Marcus Rashford

In 2020, a mural of footballer Marcus Rashford by street artist Akse P19 was painted in the Withington area of Manchester, United Kingdom. The mural was created in recognition of the work Rashford did during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom to help tackle child food poverty.

Mural of Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford
Black-and-white portrait painting on wall of footballer and social campaigner Marcus Rashford
ArtistAkse P19
Completion date10 November 2020 (2020-11-10)
MediumPaint
MovementStreet art
SubjectMarcus Rashford
Dimensions5 m × 15 m (16 ft × 49 ft)[1]
LocationWithington, Manchester, United Kingdom
Coordinates53.4340408°N 2.229962°W / 53.4340408; -2.229962
OwnerWithington Walls
Preceded byGeorge Floyd (2020)[2]
Followed byCaptain Tom (2021)[3]
WebsiteWebsite

After Rashford had missed a penalty kick for England in the UEFA Euro 2020 Final in July 2021, the mural was vandalised, prompting locals to post messages of support for Rashford before its restoration.

Description
Marcus Rashford, 2018

Based on a photograph by Daniel Cheetham, the painting of Marcus Rashford was completed in 2020 by street artist Akse, in collaboration with the street art project Withington Walls, to commemorate the footballer's work to reduce child hunger.[4] The mural is a black and white portrait painting,[5] and appears on an exterior wall of Coffee House Café on Copson Street,[6][7] near where Rashford was raised in Old Moat.[8] The mural's quote, which reads, "Take pride in knowing that your struggle will play the biggest role in your purpose",[4] was taken from a letter published as part of a campaign with Burberry to fund youth centres.[9][10]

History

Aske spoke with Rashford while completing the artwork in November 2020 and said, "I hope the mural will inspire the local community as he has inspired the whole nation with his campaign to fight child food poverty."[8][11] To celebrate Black History Month in 2021, a close-up of the mural was featured on Google Street View.[12]

Vandalism

The painting was vandalized with the words "shite in a bucket, bastard", "fuck Sancho", and "fuck Saka" after those players and Rashford failed to score in a penalty shootout for England in the UEFA Euro 2020 Final, which meant Italy won the shootout 3-2.[13] The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, described the mural defacement as a "despicable, shameful act".[4] Ed Wellard, co-founder of Withington Walls, worked to cover the profanity immediately;[4] residents created a collage of supportive messages, flags, and hearts across the artwork,[4][14] and Akse restored the mural.[15][16] On 16 July, Manchester City Council announced plans to preserve the items left at the mural following the vandalism. A representative of the council described the public's response as a "Manchester moment we will all remember and should not forget",[17] and BT created a virtual replication of the messages named the "Wall of Hope".[18]

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said, "While the content of the vandalism is not believed to be of a racial nature, officers are keeping an open mind as to the motive behind defacing the artwork".[15] Hundreds of people participated in an anti-racism demonstration at the mural, leaving Rashford "lost for words".[19] Rashford was moved by the messages of support. He shared images of the collage and tweeted, "The communities that wrapped their arms around me continue to hold me up... I can take critique of my performance all day long... but I will never apologise for who I am and where I came from."[16] In October 2021, GMP released CCTV footage of a hooded man within the vicinity of the mural at 23:40 BST on 11 July, who they believed may be responsible for the crime.[20][21]

Reception

Bradley Ormesher of The Times described the mural as "impressive" and "a real tourist attraction".[7]

See also

References
  1. Akse. "Marcus Rahford (2020)". Akse. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  2. Cox, Charlotte (23 July 2020). "Manchester's George Floyd mural artist and his own fight against racism". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  3. Jackson, Daisy (30 March 2021). "A Captain Tom mural has been painted in Manchester". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  4. "Marcus Rashford mural defaced after England Euro 2020 defeat". BBC News. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  5. Halle-Richards, Sophie (6 November 2020). "A powerful mural honouring Marcus Rashford MBE has appeared in a Manchester suburb where he lived as a boy". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  6. "Art house: a celebration of football murals – in pictures". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  7. Ormesher, Bradley (14 December 2020). "Striking a pose for Marcus Rashford". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  8. "Marcus Rashford thanks artist for Withington mural". BBC News. 10 November 2020. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  9. Cochrane, Lauren (2 November 2020). "Burberry partners with Marcus Rashford to fund youth centres". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  10. Embury-Dennis, Tom (2 November 2020). "Marcus Rashford and Burberry partner to provide help for UK youth clubs". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  11. "A Mural of English Soccer Player Marcus Rashford, Once the Target of Racist Graffiti, Is Now Covered in Messages of Support". Artnet. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  12. Shah, Furvah (13 October 2021). "Marcus Rashford's Manchester mural available to view on Google Street View". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  13. Glancy, Josh (17 July 2021). "Before we dismiss all England fans as racist, we need to know the score. Your ball, Twitter". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  14. Khan, Aina J. (13 July 2021). "A Manchester Mural Was Defaced by Racist Graffiti. Soccer Fans Rushed to Fix It". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  15. "Marcus Rashford mural graffiti 'not racial', say police". BBC News. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  16. "Euro 2020: Marcus Rashford mural restored following vandalism". ESPN. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  17. Slater, Chris (16 July 2021). "What is next for the Marcus Rashford mural?". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  18. Gardner, Jamie (23 July 2021). "Virtual 'Wall of Hope' created to feature Marcus Rashford mural messages". The Independent. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  19. "Hundreds take the knee in front of defaced Marcus Rashford mural". The Irish Times. 14 July 2021. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  20. "Marcus Rashford mural: Hooded man wanted over vandalism". BBC News. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  21. "Hunt for Marcus Rashford mural vandal: CCTV footage released by Greater Manchester Police". Sky News. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
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