A street artist received a police visit after they called out Woolworths and Coles for alleged price gouging tactics.
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The Sydney-based artist NotNot, gave the major supermarkets a brutal rebrand as they silk-screened the phrases, 'we the price gouge people' for Woolies and 'down, down morality is down' for Coles onto the signs of local stores.
NotNot said they had a sneaking feeling that both the major supermarkets were using inflation as an excuse to increase profits.
It comes as Coles and Woolworths announced their annual profits of more than $1 billion, even after a spike in cost-of-living pressures on households.
"Then they released those record breaking profits and it was hard to see it as anything else but price gouging," NotNot told ACM.
"So, I decided to make a piss-take artwork to pushback at the price gouging."
The artist devised clever tactics to allow them to complete their work, while going unnoticed.
"Unlike a lot of other street artists holding a spray can is seen as pretty dodgy.
"But when you are holding a large silks screen that people don't really understand as a form of street art you are more likely to sneak through," they said.
"Also wearing the high-vis people tend to be pretty accepting, even if you are doing it right next to the check-out."
NotNot has taken to Instagram and TikTok to post a video of their artistic rebrand work, set to the tune of, 'We're not gonna take it' by Twisted Sister. The video has amassed more than 2,000 views on TikTok and 5000 likes on Instagram.
NotNot said since posting the video they have only received positive feedback from the public and people encouraging them to do it at their local Woolies or Coles.
"I see it as the role of an artist to hold a mirror to society. If Coles and Woolies don't like the look of their reflection they should stop what they are doing. It's the role of an artist to call out things they do not consider right."
Most of the graffiti has been since removed from stores. NotNot said that they will take a short break after the police visit but that will not stop them.
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Rachel Clark
Rachel is a journalist at the Northern Daily Leader, covering education, politics, environment, and features. Have a tip? rachel.clark@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Rachel is a journalist at the Northern Daily Leader, covering education, politics, environment, and features. Have a tip? rachel.clark@austcommunitymedia.com.au
