A supposedly festive Christmas mural on Kingston's popular Riverside Walk has become the centre of a social media storm, with baffled locals branding it a 'Lovecraftian horror' after discovering it appears to have been hastily generated using artificial intelligence.
A Festive Façade Hides AI-Generated Bizarre Scenes
The massive display, measuring an estimated 100 feet wide, has appeared above the Côte Brasserie restaurant and several other eateries in the busy walking area. At first glance, it depicts a large, merry crowd happily celebrating the holidays. However, a closer inspection reveals a far more disturbing reality, filled with horribly disfigured people and animals.
Residents flocked to social media to ridicule the bizarre installation. On Reddit, one Kingston local likened the experience to witnessing 'scenes of Lovecraftian horror,' while another pointedly questioned, 'what in the AI is going on here and just HOW did this carnage get approved?'
Dissecting the Distortions: What's Wrong With The Mural?
The mural's errors are numerous and jarring. In one section, dogs with the heads of birds can be seen running through a partially frozen body of water. Another part of the image shows a group of warped humans paddling a raft using what appears to be a dog's leg attached to a stick.
Perhaps the most haunting image is of a figure resembling a snowman, but with unsettling human eyes and teeth, wading through the water. The poor quality is particularly surprising given the sophistication of modern AI image generation tools, which often produce highly realistic results.
It remains unclear who approved the artwork. Neither Côte Brasserie, Bill's restaurant, nor Kingston upon Thames council have confirmed their involvement, with Côte Brasserie declining to comment when approached by the Daily Mail.
Public Reaction: Outrage and Morbid Fascination
The public response has been a mix of outrage and morbid curiosity. Many expressed disbelief at the apparent laziness. 'It beggars belief that if you're going to use AI, you wouldn't even take a fraction of the time you've allegedly saved... to at least check it a bit,' one furious commenter wrote online.
Another added, 'I can't believe someone would hit go on the production of this, and not feel any kind of worry or shame.' Others pleaded, 'Oh dear god just pay a graphic designer for god's sake. This Boschian nightmare will haunt my dreams.'
However, not all reactions were negative. Some Londoners found a strange delight in the chaotic display. 'I'm equal parts delighted and horrified,' one person admitted. Another joked, 'This is absolutely phenomenal. Would love to see the entire thing. I'm pretty sure I've had nightmares like this,' indicating a plan to visit the site specifically to see the mural.
This incident highlights the growing pains and public scepticism surrounding the use of AI in public art and commercial spaces, especially during a cherished time like Christmas, where quality and cheer are expected.
