The title of a street graphic design exhibition named ‘Eye Saw’ has been taken literally by over-zealous City of Sydney “graffiti police”, who this week hosed down the outdoor exhibition, ruining one-off artworks.

In an embarrassment for the City, it is one of the sponsors of the washed-out exhibition – part of the Sydney Design 08 event run by the Powerhouse Museum this month.

Between 20 and 30 chalk designs, posters and stencil works were put up on display in Omnibus Lane near the museum on Monday.

The pieces, by members of the Australian Graphic Design Association, were meant to be on display until August 16 but only lasted a day after council workers stepped in and cleared them away on Tuesday morning.

Simon Pemberton, NSW president of the association, said a staff member from the Powerhouse Museum tried to tell the council workers that it was a sanctioned exhibition on Tuesday morning, “but to no avail”.

Mr Pemberton said the council action was the result of “a communication breakdown between a number of people” and the necessary paperwork obtaining a permit for the exhibition was not filed on time.

“It’s terribly sad but another example of how communication, or a lack of communication, can get in the way,” he said.