A heated controversy has erupted in Marseille's historic Panier district following the sudden removal of a street art mural depicting Patrick Kouyoumdjian, known locally as Titus. The artwork was erased by a specialized company commissioned by the police prefecture on Friday, October 10, without prior notice or explanation to the community.
The mural, created in 2024 by graffiti artist Poasson on a building located on Rue Rodillat in the heart of the neighborhood, was part of the district's impressive collection of over 2,000 street art pieces that have made the Panier a major tourist attraction. The artwork depicting the 46-year-old local figure was reportedly painted with verbal authorization from the landlord, Habitat Marseille Provence, making its sudden removal all the more puzzling to residents and artists alike.
Titus himself has expressed outrage over what he sees as an inexplicable decision by the municipal government of the 2nd and 3rd arrondissements. Having served his time and paid his debt to society after "a few years off track," as he puts it, Titus views the targeted removal as unjustified censorship. "If we start with this one, we'll erase all the others. We'll paint everything pink, paint everything yellow, just like that," he said, expressing concern that this action could set a dangerous precedent for the district's extensive street art collection.
Local residents and business owners have also voiced their disapproval of the heavy-handed approach. Sandrine, a knife maker who works in the Panier district, witnessed the whitewashing of the mural and was struck by the significant police deployment that accompanied the operation on Friday morning. "Why mobilize so many resources to erase an artwork?" she questioned. "There are hundreds of portraits here, and for once we actually knew the person who was depicted," Sandrine lamented, highlighting the personal connection the community felt to this particular piece.
The artist behind the mural, Poasson, who created the work while suspended from a rope in an impressive display of artistic skill, has denounced the removal as censorship. "The Panier is a tourist destination dedicated to street art and graffiti. Tourists come here to see street art. In this case, for me, this is a motion of censure. They're deciding to suppress this particular figure," he stated. The selective nature of the intervention has raised questions about the limits of artistic freedom of expression in France.
Poasson emphasized the broader implications of this action, noting the contradiction between France's reputation as a country that champions human rights and freedom of expression, and the reality of artistic censorship. "In France, we talk about being the country of human rights and freedom of expression, yet we're often censored for different reasons. But it doesn't matter," he added defiantly, "we'll do it again!" The controversy has highlighted ongoing tensions between local authorities and the vibrant street art community that has helped transform the Panier into one of Marseille's most visited cultural destinations.