GEORGE TOWN, Dec 17 — A wooden picture frame surrounding a hole in Nagor Road that authorities took as a “creative” complaint was simply a street art installation, artist Ernest Zacharevic explained.

Correcting the belief by the state government that the piece was intended to bring to light to inaction over the hole left following the removal of a fire hydrant here, the street artist said it was not his intention to do so.

"I was not highlighting it to the authorities but showing that there is beauty to be found in unexpected places," he said in an email to the Malay Mail Online.

Yesterday, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng appeared to interpret Zacharevic's latest street art installation as an attempt to point out the hole in the road to the authorities.

Advertisement

Lim had told a press conference that the art work will not be removed but will now serve as a reminder to the local authorities to immediately deal with any complaints regarding the road conditions.

The Penang lawmaker had labelled the art work as a "creative way to draw attention to it" and said the state government was open to positive criticism.

“Unlike other authorities who had removed his artwork and wanted to fine him, we will not take any action or remove it as we respect creative expressions of art,” Lim had said, in veiled reference to the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB).

Advertisement

A photograph posted on the JB Talks website showing what appeared to be a Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) team painting over the mural by street artist Ernest Zacharevic. — Picture courtesy of JBTalks.cc
A photograph posted on the JB Talks website showing what appeared to be a Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) team painting over the mural by street artist Ernest Zacharevic. — Picture courtesy of JBTalks.cc

MBJB last month whitewashed over a controversial street painting by Zacharevic that depicted a LEGO mugger carrying a knife and laying in wait for his victim around the corner, after Johor authorities complained the mural painted the city in a negative light.

In an immediate response today, Lim voiced appreciation for Zacharevic's artistic efforts but added that the hole has since been temporally covered up to avoid mishaps. The frame has, however, been left intact.

"Even though it was not meant as a complaint, we have to point out that the hole is under Indah Water Konsortium's jurisdiction and they might remove it if they need to use it for servicing," Lim said in a press conference today.

Lim also explained that he assumed the art work was a creative form of complaint from his reading of Chinese language news reports after the art work was first spotted several days ago.

Zacharevic became famous two years ago for his wall murals all over George Town which he painted as part of the George Town Festival 2012.