Queensland Rail has embraced a piece of illegal guerilla art by including it in an official 3D representation of Central Station's $67 million upgrade.
It also confirmed Smoke, by anonymous street artist the Blu Art Xinja (pronounced "ninja"), would remain on the chimney of Central's heritage-listed entrance building on Ann Street.
The enigmatic artist, who attached the sculpture to the chimney in 2012, said he was thrilled to see Smoke included in QR's virtual reality model of the Central Station makeover, which were linked to from the project's official website.
The project was due to be completed in about three years.
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"I think it's great that the [Queensland Rail] artist included my Smoke piece in the 3D walk-through model," Xinja said.
"He or she obviously saw it as an aesthetic part of the building itself, and that is the goal with all of the public pieces I install.
"Whether it survives the station's makeover or not, I guess time will tell, but I'm willing to work with them if they want some extra embellishment."
A Queensland Rail spokeswoman said there were "no plans" to remove Xinja's Smoke piece as the Central Station upgrade was completed.
"The workers might have to remove it when they're working there, but it will only be temporary," she said.
"If they have to move it, they'll be putting it back."
Xinja has developed a cult following around Brisbane for his blue-painted hardboard or marine ply sculptures, which were fixed to landmarks across the city with outdoor mounting tape and liquid nails.
Xinja's work could be found all over the city, despite a hostile Brisbane City Council, which had declared war on unauthorised street art.
Just last month, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said not even internationally acclaimed street artist Banksy would be welcome in Brisbane, unless he sought prior approval from the council.
In 2014, the council destroyed a piece of street art by Brisbane street artist Anthony Lister, which would have been worth thousands of dollars.
The Blu Art Xinja's work has also appeared interstate, with installations appearing in Melbourne, Sydney and various towns up and down the eastern seaboard.
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