Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic, known for creating stunning street murals in Malaysia’s Penang, has unexpectedly discovered that his work is being used as livery on an AirAsia plane without his permission.
The artwork titled Children On A Bicycle is one of his most well-known murals which he painted in 2012. The mural, along with his other works across George Town in Penang, draws tourists from all over the world.
The artist posted a picture from 22 November of the aircraft with his mural on social media. He tagged AirAsia and its founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and said: “I think we need to talk.”
Zacharevic’s mural is displayed on the front section of the fuselage. “I first noticed it on my friend’s Instagram story, and then I saw it myself at the airport on Friday,” he told The Straits Times.
He was not approached by the airline for permission to use his artwork and it wasn’t even the first time they used his work without seeking his approval, he said.
“I have contacted them in the past but there was no positive outcome,” he added.
The artist, who is based in Penang, said on Monday that his team reached out to AirAsia but it proved “difficult to get through the many corporate layers to the correct person”.
He was also hoping AirAsia would contact him via his ZACH Studio, he told Malay Mail, adding that he was not sure how many of the aircraft featured his work. Although he had seen only one, he said, “I am guessing there are a few of them”.
Zacharevic painted Children On A Bicycle, along with Boy on Motorcycle and Boy on Chair, at the 2012 George Town Festival. He has been likened to the famous British street artist Banksy, and one of his works featuring a woman carrying a Chanel bag walking and a man with a knife on the other side of the wall was painted over by local officials in 2013.
“My paintings are always a response to whatever social environment I get exposed to,” Zacharevic told the BBC. “I noticed many people just feel extremely unsafe. Everyone I talked to – no matter what their situation – would say, ‘Take care of yourself and hide your bag.’”
The Independent has reached out to AirAsia for a comment.
