KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 ― The Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) wants building owners to paint over the wall art. The street artist responsible for the murals says he stands by his work and some people on Facebook are protesting the murals should be saved.
What do those in the art community think about the uproar over street artist Ernest Zacharevic’s wall painting of a Lego man wearing a ski mask and holding a knife waiting to rob a Lego woman carrying a “Chanel” bag?
“I think it is a fun tongue in cheek mural yet it is also a bad idea to keep this mural as it promotes the notion, especially in Singapore, that Johor is unsafe,” artist Yusof Majid, who is also the owner of Pace Gallery in Petaling Jaya, said.
“Though it’s cute, it’s pretty damning and in South-East Asia we don’t like to highlight negative points in society. If I were the mayor, I would be slightly embarrassed by this mural and want to see the back of it.
“I think it’s very clever and I liked it as an artwork. I played with Lego as a child so it resonated with me quite strongly.”
Does he think MBJB’s move to have the murals—there are three altogether in Johor Baru including the controversial one—painted over will limit artistic freedom?
“That is for the mayor to decide, and yes, there is also a big debate to be had on freedom of expression.”
Then there is Christine Ngh, the founder of Bumblebee Consultancy which is a creative agency focused on art for social engagement.
“I’m pleasantly surprised to see that Ernest is an artist that speaks the truth from other people’s point of view through his work.
“This is pretty rare in our part of the world but it makes him a good street artist who captures everyday life, our popular culture (Legoland in Johor Baru, high end brand consumers) and puts a smile on people’s faces. He wins my applause.”
Bumblebee has worked on several projects involving street artists like Kul Sign Festival 2010.
A character designer and visual artist named Orkibal hoped the mural will be given a reprieve by authorities.
“I love it,” he enthused while saying it could serve to remind pedestrians to be more aware of their surroundings.
However, he also believed the controversy stirred up over the imagery in social media meant it was inevitable that the authorities will seek its removal, which he acknowledged was within their powers.
“But to call it vandalism is lame; because better his (Zacharevic’s) mural than Ah Long posters” he told The Malay Mail Online, referring to the ubiquitous bills and stickers advertising loan shark services that are commonly pasted illegally on walls.
Zacharevic, who first came on the scene a couple years ago with a series of wall art in the inner city of George Town, Penang, was recently ranked No. 2 in street art webzine streetartnews.net “The 10 Most Popular Murals of October 2013” after Banksy.
While most of Zacharevic’s work in Malaysia has been whimsical and heartwarming, this particular drawing in Johor Baru seems like a bit of a departure from the norm.
It is still fun but there is most certainly a barbed reference to Johor Baru’s reputation as a crime hot spot.
Some people on Facebook are giving their own solution to the problem by creatively replacing the knife with a bunch of flowers, among others. Even national daily The Star is getting in on the act by asking readers to send in their creative edit of the drawing.
Once again, Zacharevic has people talking and that, perhaps, is the true value of street art of his calibre.
