AN artist has defended his Christmas window which was branded "very graphic" saying it is meant to "stop you in your tracks".
A disturbed TikToker captured a “very graphic” festive arrangement at a gallery in Long Wyre Street, Colchester.
In a video posted this week, TikTok user @its__me__innit__ shared her horror after spotting a Barbie doll proudly hanging its head out of a Range Rover window after crashing into and decapitating a reindeer.
The window display is part of a pop-up group art exhibition curated by the artist Eyesaw, whose real name is Paul Cottie.
Paul says he wanted his window display to reflect changing times in the retail industry and to start a conversation on the demise of the high street.
“As a child growing up in the 80s I remember Colchester town centre as a vibrant, busy, bustling place at Christmas,” he said.
“Every year, independent stores like Williams and Griffin would put an amazing amount of effort into their Christmas window displays. It would be magical and stop you in your tracks with so much to see it would be the talk of the town for days.
“Sadly with the decline of independent shops in the town, these days have passed us by, large commercial high street chains no longer make the effort. Christmas has lost its magic and is all geared towards consumerism.”
He continued: “Much like the window displays of old, I wanted to curate a display that also stopped people in their tracks and was the talk of the town but for different reasons.
“My display is social commentary, not only on the decline of the high street but also questions real-life issues the commercialisation of Christmas and mass capitalist consumerism.”
He added feedback on the display has been overwhelmingly positive, acknowledging “you can’t please all the people all the time and art is subjective”.
The TikToker said: “This is one messed up Christmas display in Colchester. Seriously, it’s a massacre.”
@its__me__innit__ Oh my days! Chaotic Christmas window display in Colchester City Centre that I just had to share with the world.It’s literal carnage. Santas elf burnt alive. Barbie making roadkill of Rudolph. A grim reeper nativity scene. Gingerbread street brawl. I’ve never seen a display like this before. I boarder between laughing and questioning the window artists sanity. 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻 #christmas #christmaswindowdisplay #christmasdisplay #nativityscene #naughtyelf #barbie #santa #colchester #eyesaw_nft #alt #altchristmas #fyp #controversial ♬ Christmas Is Coming - DM Production
The window display also features a “homeless looking” Father Christmas, Mary and Joseph with the Grim Reaper, and two naughty elves having a “fun time with Barbie”.
“I think it’s fair to say they’re not keen on Christmas, you know,” the TikToker added.
Former Colchester resident Tina Cooke contacted the gallery to raise her concerns about the display.
She said: “It is absolutely horrific. Most little girls dream about Barbie and it's their favourite toy – even more so after the motion picture. This will give them dreadful nightmares.”
Rowhedge resident Annie Steward felt the gallery “missed the point of Christmas cheer”.
“It’s just not very Christmassy and not at all nice for children to walk past and see,” she said.
The show is open on Saturdays between 10am and 5pm and Sundays between 10am and 4pm until January 14.
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