GTWHI will work with artist Zacharevic to save his vandalised murals

The Rakyat Post
Published August 20, 2015  10.49am

 By Zalinah Nordin 



Cars and shops as well as murals along Campbell Street and Armenian Street were spray painted with '#4.0' in yellow. One of the murals was by Zacharevic called 'Little Children on a Bicycle' which has drawn droves of tourists to the site to pose with the 3D art piece. — TRP pic by Adib Hakim

GEORGE TOWN, Aug 20, 2015:

The vandalising of murals in the heritage enclave of George Town, one of of which was by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic, should not have happened if there was an appreciation for arts, a heritage conservation expert says.

George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) general manager Lim Choo Ping described the act as “very sad and such a waste as the mural was not only a tourist attraction but also something which evokes childhood memories in many”.

“The GTWHI will contact Zacharevic ro see if there is any way we could salvage his painting and get rid of the yellow paint.

“The act of vandalising goes to show the lack of appreciation and lack of respect for works of art,” said Lim when contacted.

Yesterday, cars, shops and murals along Campbell Street and Armenian Street were spray painted with ”#4.0” in yellow.

One of the murals was by Zacharevic, called “Little Children on a Bicycle”, which has drawn droves of tourists to the site to pose with the 3D art piece.

Police have already obtained a closed-circuit television camera (CCTC) of the suspect.

Meanwhile, on Instagram, Zacharevic put up a picture of his vandalised artwork and coolly wrote, “It’s amazing to be a spectator of your own artworks life… This piece has experienced more in last couple of years than most of the people in their entire life. Let the scars and wrinkles tell the story.”

Meanwhile, Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai, who is also political secretary to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, said that the murals are the pride of Penangites.

“This is an act of vandalism which is really frowned upon.

“I pray that it could be saved and restored to its original state and that the police could trace the perpetrator and punish the person accordingly,” he said when contacted.

There are altogether eight murals by Zacharevic in Penang in the heritage enclave such as “Children in a Boat” and ”Little Girl in Blue”.

Zacharevic ‘s murals have been around in Penang since 2012 in conjunction with Penang Georgetown Festival since 2012.

http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/08/20/gtwhi-will-work-with-artist-zacharevic-to-save-his-vandalised-murals/