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Posted: 2017-05-21 07:25:32

Posted May 21, 2017 17:25:32

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says she is not offended by a controversial mural in Melbourne's west depicting a bulldog cocking its leg on her face.

Melbourne artist Van T Rudd said he painted the mural on a shop wall on Donald Street in Footscray as a statement against "extreme right-wing" views.

The mural has attracted attention on social media, with some people praising the work and others calling it "disgusting" and disrespectful to Senator Hanson.

In Perth, Ms Hanson said the mural did not worry her.

"From what I've been through, for what I've had thrown at me over the year, you think that would offend me? Not at all," she said.

"I'm pretty tough, and if you want to be in politics, it is a tough game. It's dirty and this is why.

"I consider what I want to do, and what I am doing for the Australian people is more important than worrying about rubbish like that."

Rudd said he did not consider the mural to be very controversial.

"It does boil down to a direct confrontation … I'm using two quite powerful symbols to do that," he said.

He said he used the mascot of the Western Bulldogs AFL team because it was a popular symbol of the city's west.

"It's a part of people's lives, including people with different backgrounds," he said.

"The strength of the migrant population, the Aboriginal culture that is here, the Western Bulldogs to me represent a lot of that.

"I feel like the art and the sports is an arena that we can challenge things … that's why it's really important for me to do this."

Rudd said the mural had not been given approved by the local council.

Shop owner Kuan Pung said Rudd had asked him if he could paint the wall and he agreed.

Mr Pung, a refugee from Cambodia, said he did not think the work was offensive.

"I think it's great, it's good," he said.

"She's not supporting the refugees."

Rudd, the nephew of former prime minister Kevin Rudd, carries a strong anti-racism message in his artwork and is known for pushing the boundaries.

In 2010, he was fined by police after donning a Ku Klux Klan hood for an anti-racism protest outside the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park.

The ABC was unable to reach the Western Bulldogs for comment.

Topics: government-and-politics, street-art, arts-and-entertainment, immigration, race-relations, community-and-society, footscray-3011, melbourne-3000, vic

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