A Christmas banner displayed at Redfern station was removed after commuters raised concerns online that the artwork appeared to be generated by artificial intelligence.
Online Reaction To Redfern Station Artwork
The banner, installed between platforms 10 and 11, showed Santa on a beach surrounded by Australian animals. Commuters later noticed irregular features in the image, including a koala head on a kangaroo body, a rodent with detached limbs, and kangaroos wearing bikinis.
A photo of the banner was posted on an online forum, where it drew more than 3,000 approvals and widespread discussion. Users described the artwork as “AI slop,” pointing out distorted details and mismatched anatomy. Some commenters compared the image to other examples of generative AI flaws circulating online.
Transport For NSW Responds
On 27 November 2025, Transport for NSW confirmed the decision to remove the banner after receiving community feedback. The organisation noted that Redfern station staff have displayed festive artwork for several years as part of end-of-year decorations. Questions were also raised online about whether the banner had been generated internally, as the image was not available for online purchase.
Other Christmas Displays At Redfern
Redfern station continues to display other festive decorations, including lights and a Christmas tree at the Lawson Street Opal gates. These were installed on 8 November 2025, similar to decorations at other major Sydney Trains stations.
A separate hand-made felt display, shown in a later social media update, was already in place before the AI banner was removed. According to comments, the banner space itself was replaced with a commemoration display for Redfern intelligence liaison officers, while the hand-made board remained on the opposite side.
Comparable Incident In London
A similar case occurred in Kingston-upon-Thames in London, where a large Christmas mural was removed following complaints about distorted details that appeared consistent with AI-generated imagery. The mural included snowmen with additional eyes and animals with mismatched features.
Next Steps For Redfern Station
Festive displays will continue at Redfern, with decorations aimed at providing a seasonal atmosphere for commuters. No further details were provided in the sources about future artwork selection processes.
Published 1-Dec-2025
