OXFORD City Council has said it is treating the latest 'exhibit' by an anonymous street artist as flytipping.

The installation which features an abandoned washing machine in Littlemore underpass appears to be the latest work of mysterious but prolific local artist Athirty4.

Earlier this month he was responsible for placing a series of fake social media-related street signs across the city, and now appears to have had a hand in two underpass exhibits.

On Friday another piece featuring a clothes hook next to a sign asking passers-by to 'hang their sorrows' was 'unveiled' on social media.

Oxford Mail:

However, Oxford City Council said today that the washing machine exhibit was considered fly tipping and would be removed.

The council's executive member for a safer, greener environment, Tom Hayes, said: “The washing machine is blocking the public highway. If we leave it in place we’re effectively sanctioning it, which means we could be held liable for any injuries if, for example, a cyclist crashed into it at night.

“If the artist wants to create lasting public artwork in Oxford they should get in touch with us. We already work with several local artists at our graffiti ‘free walls’, and every year we bring internationally-recognised art installations to Broad Street as part of the Christmas Light Festival.”

The underpass art is apparently a joint project by three local street artists, P. Destrian, Lord Veeb and Athirty4, as part of the Under-Currents project.

Oxford Mail:

According to the Twitter account, the project involves the three artists exhibiting their 'creations in various underpasses in Oxford'.

A sign at the entrance of the underpass denotes the area as an Under Currents' Exhibition Space'.

Oxford Mail:

The washing machine, which was removed by council workers earlier today, was placed next to a sign referencing 'preconceptions' on modern art.

Oxford Mail:

Earlier this month the anonymous Athirty4 sparked intrigue in Oxford after erecting a series of social media-related street signs across the city.

He said the signs for the likes of Facebook Row, Snapchat End and WTF Lane, were an attempt to mirror the ‘illusion’ of social media.

Oxford City Council promptly removed the signs however claiming they made the city 'harder to navigate'.

While in March fake road signs in Didcot directing motorists to fictional destinations such as Gatham City and Middle Earth were also the work Athirty4.

PIC credit: Twitter @UCurrent