BANGKOK — Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has vowed to prosecute vandals who defaced a mural by Spanish artist Carolina Adan Caro, with police already apprehending one of three suspects involved in the deliberate destruction.
The governor inspected the damaged artwork on Charoen Krung Soi 30 in Bang Rak district on September 29, expressing outrage over the incident that saw the freshly completed street art spray-painted over in a pre-dawn attack two days earlier.
“This Is Unacceptable”
“This is something we cannot accept,” Chadchart said during his site visit. “There’s no respect for other people’s work. Even though graffiti can be considered an art form, you must still respect others’ work, respect the city, and respect the place.”
CCTV footage revealed that three individuals on motorcycles entered the area in the early hours of September 27 and spent 17 minutes spray-painting over the mural, which had only been officially unveiled the previous week.
“We want Bangkok to be beautiful through art. We have projects like this throughout the city, trying to create street art to add color to our urban landscape,” the governor continued. “But the malicious actions of a few people have damaged these good intentions.”
Part of City’s Creative Streets Initiative
Deputy Governor Sanon Wangsrangboon explained that the vandalized artwork was part of the “Krung Thep Creative Streets” project, an initiative by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to create more creative spaces for residents.
The program, developed in partnership with the French Embassy and several European diplomatic missions, brought together 15 international artists to create murals at 15 locations across the city. The goal was to connect three to four creative districts through public art.
Carolina Adan Caro’s mural, painted with the wall owner’s permission, took approximately 7-10 days to complete. It had been officially inaugurated just one week before the vandalism occurred.
Serious Charges Sought
Police General Adit Ngamjitsuksri, advisor to the Bangkok Governor, said authorities are pursuing charges of property destruction, which carries penalties of up to three years imprisonment, a fine of up to 60,000 baht ($1,860), or both.
One suspect has already been arrested and has confessed to the crime. Police are continuing their search for the two remaining individuals.
Governor Issues Warning
Governor Chadchart emphasized that this incident goes beyond simple vandalism. “This isn’t just making a mess. This artwork has an owner—an artist who entrusted it to Bangkok to care for. This is property. When you destroy property, the penalty is more severe than general defacement.”
He issue
d a stern warning to potential copycat vandals: “I want to tell anyone thinking of doing this: don’t do it. What you’re doing has no dignity or pride whatsoever. In fact, you should be ashamed.”
The governor also urged the public to report any similar incidents to police immediately, noting that CCTV cameras are monitoring street art locations throughout the city.
“We will prosecute to the fullest extent,” Chadchart pledged, making clear that Bangkok’s commitment to public art will be protected with serious consequences for those who vandalize it.
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