Family say they 'can't sell' £160k home thanks to 'eyesore' house next door
A son says has been left unable to sell his mother's £160,000 property to fund her care fees, blaming the 'eyesore' house next door. John Kirby claims potential buyers have been deterred from purchasing the two-bedroom semi-detached house due to Denis Carbonaros' sculpture work, which he has likened to 'fly-tipping'.
Denis gained media attention in the past for attempting to build a 'sculpture park' in his front and back garden, beginning with a woolly mammoth and later adding a Spanish galleon in a tree, a spider, and a shrine during Covid.
However, 61-year-old John, who once admired Denis' earlier pieces, alleges that now his neighbour uses the garden as a dumping ground for various items, including shopping trolleys and prams, branding it 'modern art'.
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John insists that all house hunters have cited the 'monstrosity' next door as their reason for not continuing with a sale. In response, Denis defended his current project at 'The Bark Park' asserting that it acts as a protest against people enjoying his art without making a donation.
His 'artivist campaign', named "Wows Don't Grow on Trees, Garbage and Clutter Do", employs things like trolleys and prams as "symbolic representations to respond to the ongoing invasion of my privacy and the disregard for my copyright and intellectual property."
Yet, according to John, the public's adverse reaction to these new installations has had devastating effects on his family. He stated: "We need to sell mum's house to pay for her care. It has been on the market for a couple of months but only hasn't sold due to the eyesore next door. Everyone who has viewed it has loved the house - but that has put them off moving."
John revealed that the quirky garden art began with the installation of sculptures in 2015, starting with a mammoth taking pride of place in the front garden.
He said what was once a popular attraction descended into an "absolute mess." He added: "He now has stuffed scattered all across his garden. The back garden is an absolute mess.
"In a matter of days he had dismantled everything and dumped shopping trolleys, prams, bread bins and other random items. He classed it as art - but in our view it is nothing more than fly-tipping."
His struggle began when his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in October 2021. In March 2023 she moved into a care home, exhausting all savings, prompting the urgent need to sell her property to finance ongoing care costs.
Their home is still on the market, listed just under £160k. John concluded: "He never did my mother any harm at all, but when he started with the sculptures and the big mammoth there was concern he was devaluing the house.
"I said 'don't be stupid, that's just modern art - but nine years down the line she has been proven right." John stated that he has involved the council, but was informed there is nothing they can do as he can 'put what he wants in his front garden.'
He added: "They can not pin anything on him so this is just dragging on and on. We have had nine viewings - all of them like the house, the size of rooms etc - but are put off and won't make an offer because of eyesore next door.
"How can he be allowed to get away with this when it's devaluing everyone else's homes? I tried to speak to him about it and asked him to clean up the front garden but he refused to do anything about it. I had to walk away I got so angry.
"I don't know what more we can do. We just need to sell the house. My mum is 86 - she worked all her life and shouldn't be in this situation."
John continued: "How can you be allowed to put rubbish in the front garden and class it as art and bring down the whole street?. The mammoth was fantastic, the spider and ship up the tree was great. But it is now just a dumping ground and he's made no effort to tidy it up. It's an absolute monstrosity."
Denis mentioned that the original idea was to transform his home in Dalgerty Bay, Fife into a tourist attraction and a sculpture park and spoke out previously when he unveiled the galleon - complete with rigging and mast - made out of recycled wood.
He worked as a sculptor in Sicily before moving to Scotland around 25 years ago, where he worked in web design and IT for banks. However, after suffering burn-out, he quit his job and returned to his love of art.
Responding to the allegations, he said: "While I understand their concerns, I believe it's important to provide some context that may have been overlooked."
"In August, John, the son of my neighbor, came to my door, blaming me for their difficulty in selling the property. After our discussion, I sent him a series of SMS messages outlining potential solutions to address both our concerns."
"As part of my long-standing campaign, "WOWS DON'T GROW ON TREES, GARBAGE AND CLUTTER DO!", I have used items like trolleys and prams as symbolic representations to respond to the ongoing invasion of my privacy and the disregard for my copyright and intellectual property."
Denis added: "Despite the significant local interest in my work, including visits from John and his friends, I have not received the necessary financial support through the donation caskets I have set up.
"Why, after visitors repeatedly asked for a donation box during Bark Park's first few months, did they never contribute once it was created and available by December 2015? They had only requested the donation chest but did not support it once it was provided.
"Regarding the accusation of "flytipping," I must emphasize that these items are part of a deliberate artivist campaign and hold significant meaning."
Denis continued: "Bark Park has been a local feature for over nine years, attracting visitors and admirers of my inventive works. The clutter John refers to is, in fact, a creative statement against the exploitation I've experienced from neighbours and visitors alike, who have failed to offer support despite enjoying the installations."
"While I understand their frustration over selling the property, I must stress that this issue is multifaceted. Reducing the challenge to one of "aesthetic" is not entirely fair.
"In my communications with John, I made it clear that I am open to solutions, but it's important to recognise that this isn't a one-sided issue. The ongoing disregard for my privacy and work has deeply affected me, and my campaign reflects that."
His attraction is listed on Tripadvisor and until 2020 had largely positive reviews. But since then, it has attracted several negative one star ones - with many using Denis' behaviour as the reason.
One reviewer wrote: "Very real concerns regarding this place, structures erected randomly in some person's garden who goes crazy if anyone should even glance from the main road."
Another added: "Honestly it's an eyesore and I feel sorry for his neighbours." Another wrote: "Terrible experience. I was just a passer by with my daughter who is a kid and naturally she was impressed by the building and stopped to have a look. Suddenly the man has sternly asked if we have made a donation as otherwise we are not to look."
"I have considered donation but having been approached this way not only I will avoid this place in the future but will discourage others from going."
In 2017, Denis expressed gratitude towards his next-door neighbours for their backing. He remarked: "I have two neighbours on either side of my house and the council own some land at the end of my garden."
"I have never had any complaints since starting the sculptures and I am very thankful to my neighbours for that. It they had complained back at the start, none of this would ever have happened, so I thank them."