David Bowie Sheffield tribute mural ridiculed on social media

3 February 2016

A David Bowie tribute mural created by a Sheffield graffiti artist has been ridiculed by some social media users.

A 7ft (2.1m) painting by Trik featuring Bowie in the persona of his character Aladdin Sane has appeared on a street corner in the city centre.

One Twitter contributor remarked, "How did you find an artist with no idea what Bowie looked like?", while another asked, "Who is that a picture of?"

Trik said he found it all "fun", but he might now paint over the picture.

The 25-year-old self-taught artist said: "I'm looking at the reaction right now. It's not very nice to see people talking about me as an artist.

'Let them hate'

"I'm going to get a picture of it, so it will be fine, but I've got to do what I've got to do."

Speaking about the adverse reaction, he said: "Let them hate, I'm finding it fun."

Stuart Robertson, external was one of several people on Twitter who drew a comparison between the Bowie image and former BBC Radio 1 DJ Pat Sharp.

Another Twitter user, Jon Adams, external, said: "A novel idea would be to have a tribute that looks like Bowie, who is that a picture of?"

Trik's painting replaced one of Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger that had been defaced.

A few people have come to Trik's defence - Anne Carter said on BBC Sheffield's Facebook: "Not quite right. But good!"

And Jamie McKelvie tweeted, external: "I feel really bad for the Sheffield Bowie mural artist."

Meanwhile passers-by in the city centre were also much more positive about the results.

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Passers-by have praised the David Bowie memorial

Bowie died from cancer in January, shortly after his 69th birthday.