Artists Julia Both, Akemi and Junky Projects spray-painted over a mural depicting the words ‘Sarah and Brett, Just Married’, and the image of a dog. The work was by Ashley Goudie, whose company KIL Productions (with permission from the building owner) charges couples to be photographed in front of the murals. Before protesters painted over it, this is the Just Married mural, paid for by a couple and painted by Ashley Goudie of KIL Productions, in Hosier Lane. Credit:Paul Jeffers Ms Both said the protesters approved of artists taking commissions but not in Hosier Lane which was ‘‘a really important cultural site for street art’’. She said there should be no advertising in Hosier Lane. Recent promotions for Melbourne Football Club and for UFC fighting events have been painted over.

An ad for a chocolate company was replaced by street artist JonyDee80’s portrait of a topless woman. Two months ago, management of Culture Kings streetwear shop, which has an entrance on Hosier Lane, called police in an effort to stop artists painting graffiti over its promotional art. But the store reversed its decision after a meeting with artists. On Sunday, a black and white work of two rappers on the store wall was partly painted over, in bright pink, by street artist Dim, who depicted a large pig divided into cuts of meat, as a protest for the Sacred Scribble animal rights group. Dim isn’t totally against advertising in Hosier Lane. He didn’t want it to be ‘‘covered with commercials’’. ‘‘But I think, ‘anything in moderation;. If it’s a cool piece of art, and they’re selling a product that’s ethical, I have nothing against that.’’

But artist Akemi said ads should be banned from Hosier Lane, and not be painted over unpaid artists’ work. ‘‘The intended character [of Hosier Lane] is an urban art gallery that’s constantly changing. If you were to go into the Escher Show in the NGV and the’s a big f--king McDonald’s logo in the middle of it, you’d go, ‘what’s this doing here’? ‘‘There’s enough visual litter in the city in the form of advertising and commercial enterprises, as is.’’ He said Mr Goudie’s proposal mural was done ‘‘for three people — Ashley and the couple". "That excludes the other 10,000 people who come through here every day. Art should be inclusive, it should raise people up, it should make people feel involved.’’