Art or vendalism

 Lego imagery of a woman walking alone along some back lane where danger may be lurking around the next turn.  (Picture taken from the Zacharevic’s facebook)

INTERNATIONALLY-recognised street artist Lithuanian-born Ernest Zacharevic has left his mark with beautiful wall paintings of joyful children all across historical Penang.

In fact, his murals, mostly featuring children and happiness, especially the Little Children on a bicycle on Armenian Street, are one of the major tourist attractions in the northern island state.

While having painted Penang with happiness, he has stepped on toes in Johor Baru (JB) with a wall painting, depicting the crime and security situation in JB which was removed by the Johor Town Council on Wednesday for blowing up a storm – some would say in a tea cup.

A Lego man, wearing a ski mask and holding a knife in one hand as he looks over his shoulders towards the corner, awaiting his next victim – a female Lego woman holding a Chanel handbag walking towards him from the adjoining wall – that’s enough to send chills down the spine, especially when such a theme has always played on the minds of Malaysian urbanites.

Why has Zacharevic chosen to paint such a morbid scene?

He said Johoreans had alerted him to the crime rate in the state, thus spurring him to draw the mural.

“Everytime, I asked the locals if there was anything else other than Legoland I should see in JB, they whispered to me -- yes, but you have to be careful,” he revealed.

The painting portrays JB as Legoland since both characters in it are Lego-lised, intended, I suspect, to fully tap the potential of this popular Danish brand as a tourist attraction for the state.

The painting also casts JB as a shopping paradise – Chanel and other branded goods are in abundance.

Above all, it has, inadvertently or otherwise, dropped a hot potato -- the crime rate in JB – by implying that danger lurks around every corner of the city streets.

Legal issue like whether the mural should be in existence without the council’s approval, let’s ask is the mural appropriate as a city street painting and will it promote goodwill and good feelings?

For one, it has triggered a debate on social network. Some think it’s art in bad taste and that JB deserves better while others sing praises for Zacharevic’s masterpiece (if you can call it that) and ask for more such murals at high-risk areas to keep crime at bay.

Maria Popova, a writer, describes art as “the power to transcend our own self-interest, our solipsistic zoom lens on life and to relate to the world and each other with more integrity, more curiosity, more wholeheartedness.”

The first part -- fulfilled by the painting based on Popova’s take on art -- is the transcendence of self-interest by the artist in favour of public interest as he reminds Johorean urbanites, through his brushes, palettes, colours and strokes, to be more careful when they go out as  there is danger lying in wait around every corner.

The second part -- transcending our solipsistic (ego-centric) zoom lens on life -- can perhaps be interpreted as being ready to face reality -- that there is, indeed, a high crime rate in JB -- or even Malaysia as a whole.

But can the painting allow us to relate to the world and each other with more integrity, more curiosity and more wholeheartedness?

This is what Zacharevic has to say: “Art will not harm a city’s image, crime will.”

True, JB has been affected by a high crime rate but as to how many tourists have shunned the city because of its bad reputation, we have yet to have any official figure.

Will the painting bring about positive results for tourism? I doubt it. On the contrary, it may well spawn feelings of insecurity and trepidation and, probably a sense of anarchy as well.

For some, it brings back painful memories – if they had fallen victims to robberies and other violence. In that case, there are other much better ways to send the message across without raising unnecessary alarm to mar the image of the country.

Will you proudly hang this picture in your home or allow Zacharevic to paint it on your wall – in or outside the house?

Some, especially politicians, said the painting should not be removed. Yes by removing the mural is no guarantee that the crime situation will improve or crimes will be wiped out like the painted imagery being washed off.

Johor has other charms and uniqueness besides Legoland, certainly no less than what Penang has to offer to tourists. The old part of Johor town -- with its distinctive red buildings and unique windows -- exudes an ancient appeal that should inspire many artists. And really, it deserves much better paintings!

Regardless, I have to say Zacharevic is a true artist who has made a point on the international scene through his thought-provoking art.

Sarawakians will certainly welcome him to paint a happy picture or two in our cities and towns that reflect the harmonious living of the closely knit community that we are very proud of!

As for the authorities – city councils, police and Johor state government – they should be challenged by this piece of art, and together with the people, work towards eradicating crimes just like how they have whitewashed out the “robber mural.”

Make the state a model with low crime rate -- that at every turn of a street corner, there is a Legoman (instead of a cowardly predator) with a bunch of flowers to pleasantly surprise the womenfolk with a “Chanel” bag.

As Zacharevic posted on his Facebook shortly after the authorities wiped out his wall painting: “Don’t get upset by the painting being removed. Johor Baru has proved to be a strong and opinionated state, please continue to make Malaysia as awesome as it is.”

That’s probably explains what Popova meant when she said “the power to relate to the world and with each other with more integrity, more curiosity and more wholeheartedness.