Street artist Akse has unveiled his latest work and hopes it will send a strong message to President Trump as his state visit to the UK begins today.
Akse - who is responsible for some of Manchester’s most famous street art - created a huge new mural depicting Trump shouting in the face of Martin Luther King.
Several birds, painted in the style of the Twitter logo appear to be flying out of the President’s mouth, while a dove appears above Dr King’s head.
The piece, entitled ‘Battle of the Birds’, was painted last month at Talbot Mill, in Castlefield, which is currently being re-developed by Capital and Centric.
An accompanying video, made by director Charlie Watts, shows the side of the wall featuring the President’s image being destroyed by a large digger. The wall has since been demolished.
Akse says the artwork was made to coincide with the President’s visit to the UK.
“I feel the world is going backwards,” he said.
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“I came up with this design 18 months ago, but as Trump’s state visit was scheduled this year, Charlie and I decided to make this project happen.”
In the minute-long video, Akse explains how he came to the UK from France around 20 years ago.
Speaking in the short film the artist says: “I was born in Paris suburbs to Vietnamese parents.
“I moved to Manchester 20 years ago where I met my wife, who is Spanish. We now have two beautiful sons. I do worry for their future, as I feel the world is going backwards.
“I would say my life has been a journey of multicultural backgrounds and experiences. Today I don’t see this as a burden but instead as a celebration.”
Akse is well known in Manchester for his striking murals.
Last month a painting depicting Game of Thrones character Arya Stark was painted onto a substation in the Northern Quarter.
Akse created it over the course of an afternoon in Stevenson Square, in the midst of the final season of the HBO fantasy drama.
He has been behind some of the city’s most distinctive artworks including a portrait of Mark E. Smith painted on the side of a chippy in Prestwich and a Tony Wilson mural outside Affleck’s Palace.
Most recently his distinctive style was spotted in Withington when he scrawled an image of Factory Records icon Peter Saville on a wall next in the heart of the village.
And last year Akse meticulously spray painted a striking image of Uma Thurman onto a wall in Burnage.
It was painted over a previous Akse image of Kevin Spacey in the wake of allegations that the actor had harassed young men.
The image - which is still on the side of accountancy firm Nurbhai and Co Accountants, on Mauldeth Road - depicts Thurman as blood-spattered assassin ‘The Bride’, who embarks on a ‘roaring rampage of revenge’ against her attackers.
Thurman is a supporter of the ‘Me Too’ movement, which highlights allegations of sexual harassment.
