'Wear-and-tear' found in Zacharevic's art work
Susan LoonePublished: Jan 24, 2014 2:44 PM | Updated: Jan 24, 2014 6:58 PM
Reporters rushed to the art exhibition of Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic in Penang this afternoon after being told that several art pieces had been "sabotaged".
He says it could probably be because many people had posed with it.
Reporters rushed to the art exhibition of Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic in Penang this afternoon after being told that several art pieces had been "sabotaged".
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (left in photo) also made his way to the old Hin Company bus depot on Jalan Gurdwara at 1.30pm, where Zacharevic's art pieces are displayed until Feb 14.
Zacharevic denied any vandalism on his art, saying "we had a lot of traffic and there is wear-and-tear".
"Everything else is fine," said the artist of the ‘Art is Rubbish/ Rubbish is Art’ exhibition.
He was surprised by the chief minister's visit and said, "I am happy he is here".
Two Lego-style figures, a coloured human-height 4D version of the branded handbag-carrying woman and knife-wielding bandit in Johor Bahru - which was later removed by the Johor Baru City Council - had some tears.
The handle of the ‘Chanel bag’ is broken and the knife appeared to have been slightly torn.
Zacharevic said it could probably be the result of many people posing with it.
"Some people who came to the art exhibition saw the tears and took photos and posted them on Facebook," he added.
Treated differently in Penang
Zacharevic grabbed public attention and admiration after his mural, ‘Little Children on a Bicycle’, which has now become world-famous, appeared on the walls of old buildings along Armenian Street.
He was caught in another controversy after his Lego-style art depicting a woman carrying a branded handbag, being watched by a parang-armed robber, was removed by the Johor Baru City Council.
However, Zacharevic was treated differently in Penang when he did a frame over a pothole on a road, an apparent dig at state agencies' delay in repairing the road.
Lim retained the artwork as a reminder, and vowed to allow artists their freedom of expression.
Today, Lim announced that the managing director of the building in the Hin Company bus depot, Tan Shih Thoe, has decided to offer the space for art exhibitions for at least 10 years.
"The state will see how we can assist in this effort. We want to make Penang an art centre, where other artistic and creative activities can be carried out," he said.
Lim thanked Tan, who distributes Murobond paint, which Zacharevic uses for his artwork, for his "wonderful gesture" in supporting art in Penang.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (left in photo) also made his way to the old Hin Company bus depot on Jalan Gurdwara at 1.30pm, where Zacharevic's art pieces are displayed until Feb 14.Zacharevic denied any vandalism on his art, saying "we had a lot of traffic and there is wear-and-tear".
"Everything else is fine," said the artist of the ‘Art is Rubbish/ Rubbish is Art’ exhibition.
He was surprised by the chief minister's visit and said, "I am happy he is here".
Two Lego-style figures, a coloured human-height 4D version of the branded handbag-carrying woman and knife-wielding bandit in Johor Bahru - which was later removed by the Johor Baru City Council - had some tears.
The handle of the ‘Chanel bag’ is broken and the knife appeared to have been slightly torn.
Zacharevic said it could probably be the result of many people posing with it.
"Some people who came to the art exhibition saw the tears and took photos and posted them on Facebook," he added.
Treated differently in Penang
Zacharevic grabbed public attention and admiration after his mural, ‘Little Children on a Bicycle’, which has now become world-famous, appeared on the walls of old buildings along Armenian Street.
He was caught in another controversy after his Lego-style art depicting a woman carrying a branded handbag, being watched by a parang-armed robber, was removed by the Johor Baru City Council.
However, Zacharevic was treated differently in Penang when he did a frame over a pothole on a road, an apparent dig at state agencies' delay in repairing the road.Lim retained the artwork as a reminder, and vowed to allow artists their freedom of expression.
Today, Lim announced that the managing director of the building in the Hin Company bus depot, Tan Shih Thoe, has decided to offer the space for art exhibitions for at least 10 years.
"The state will see how we can assist in this effort. We want to make Penang an art centre, where other artistic and creative activities can be carried out," he said.
Lim thanked Tan, who distributes Murobond paint, which Zacharevic uses for his artwork, for his "wonderful gesture" in supporting art in Penang.
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