A Christmas mural has been removed from a London neighbourhood after serious errors were pointed out.
The festive display that adorned the exterior of riverside establishments in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, was dismantled on Thursday morning following intense public criticism of its unsettling AI-generated imagery.
The enormous PVC banner, positioned above Côte Brasserie and neighbouring businesses on Riverside Walk, depicted what initially appeared to be a traditional Christmas tableau featuring Santa Claus and various animals basking in seasonal warmth.
Upon closer examination, however, the artwork revealed deeply disturbing elements that prompted numerous complaints from shoppers and widespread mockery on social media platforms.
The installation was removed at 6am after the property owner confirmed its withdrawal.
The artwork featured creatures with grotesque deformations, including a canine with avian features traversing semi-frozen waters and a snowman displaying human teeth and eyes.
Viewers reported seeing what appeared to be pilgrims congregating for ice skating and lighting fires, though their facial features were severely distorted.
The skating figures possessed twisted faces, whilst the dogs resembled chickens rather than canines.
The mural was erected in Kingston, southwest London
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One social media user characterised the display as containing “scenes of Lovecraftian horror”.
Another expressed bewilderment at what they interpreted as “a Nativity scene with Pilgrims gathering to celebrate the birth of Jesus.”
The property owners reportedly claimed the artwork drew inspiration from 16th century Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
Local residents expressed horror at the display, with Kelly Sherlock, 28, declaring: “It was an eyesore – it was bonkers really.
A snowman appeared to have human teeth
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“Everyone was going down to have a look so it was eye-catching, but in the wrong way.”
Designer Cameron Tomlin, 37, stated: “The mural was awful it was like some nightmarish scene.
“Not very Christmassy at all. It was more like a horror film scene.”
Teacher Prakash Patel observed: “It was horrible, like a scene from hell.”
The dog’s face appeared to look more like a chicken
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One Kingston resident questioned: “What in the AI is going on here and just how did this carnage get approved?”
The Côte Brasserie manager told the Metro that the property owner had commissioned the display without consulting tenants, noting: “They put an AI-generated mural up in the summer as well, with distorted seafood, which also was controversial.”
Kingston Council distanced itself from the debacle, with a spokesperson confirming the local authority had no role in either planning or financing the display.
Local resident, Tina Sangster remarked: “We are now literally watching that space. Who knows what will come next – AI has a lot to answer for.”