The artist says it is clearly them and they are ''trying to be funny''.
An expletive-ridden video surfaced this week of two men defacing the work on a Chorus telecommunications box near the Captain Cook Tavern.
They are seen scribbling over the name of Dunedin band The Chills and writing the word ''Coyote'' underneath.
The pair appear to be members of Dunedin pop-punk band Coyote.
Band member Jeremy Potts said it was a case of ''mistaken identity''.
The band was the victim in the situation and the perpetrator's face was ''pretty well hidden by a bucket hat, sunglass combination[sic],'' he said.
Artist Emma Craig said she discovered the video on Monday.
''Yeah, it's definitely really annoying. They're probably thinking it's a big joke.''
She was now re-doing the work.
The humour in the video was ''pretty cringe'', she said.
Ms Craig said she had contacted the police.
The project was one of several on Dunedin Chorus boxes, jointly funded by the company and the Dunedin City Council to tell stories about different areas.
The incident appears to have happened over the weekend.
Senior Sergeant Ben Butterfield said yesterday police had not received any complaints about tagging but would investigate if one was made.
