Hogre's unauthorized mural on Roman aqueduct park sparks legal and artistic debate

Artist Hogre painted a black-and-white mural of two gas-masked figures kissing on a concrete infill of a 2nd-century Roman cistern in the Parco degli Acquedotti, part of the Parco regionale dell'Appia Antica in Rome. The work, created during COVID-19 lockdown, ignited controversy over whether it constitutes art or vandalism. Legal scholars Giovanni Maria Riccio and Giada Iovane argue the act violates both written law (the cistern is under archaeological protection) and unwritten street art codes. The mural sits on a 1980s concrete patch but benefits from the ancient structure's 'excellent frame.' The authors contrast the case with Diavù's ephemeral work at the MANN museum in Naples, where authorities disagreed. They call for democratic debate on public art and cultural heritage, warning against individualistic interventions on protected monuments. Hogre, known for 'subversive' actions, previously created works like 'Eat Freegan like a Racoon' in London.