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The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Flighting for artistic rights
LITHUANIAN artist Ernest Zacharevic's latest exhibition is not just an art showcase, but a boarding pass into the turbulence of artistic rights, corporate irony and public engagement. Housed at Cultprint on Lebuh Melayu, the immersive installation titled We Need to Talk transforms the gallery into a full-fledged airport terminal, complete with a faux check-in counter, a 'runway' bench, a conveyor belt and a cockpit-style console, along with limited-edition boarding passes and class-themed merchandise packs. 'We want the visitors of the gallery to be participants in an experience rather than a viewer of the art. Everyone goes through a bit of inconvenience, delays and frustration when travelling through airports. It is that same frustration that artists go through when their work is used without permission,' said Zacharevic. The airport metaphor serves as setting and satire. In his ongoing intellectual property dispute with an airline over the unauthorised use of his artwork, Zacharevic has transformed his studio into a powerful platform advocating for artists' rights. Modelled after the safety instruction cards typically found behind airline passenger seats, a printed 'safety card' at the exhibition breaks down its underlying message. 'Art and ideas travel fast these days. But when artworks cross commercial boundaries... the creator is too often left behind,' it read. The display highlights how original works are frequently reused and profited from without permission, credit or fair compensation. Zacharevic also pointed out that such commercialisation, when carried out by powerful corporations, is often accompanied by fierce protection of their own intellectual property (IP) rights while ignoring those of creators. According to the exhibition notes, most independent artists lack the legal and financial resources to defend themselves, leaving them at a disadvantage in corporate environments. 'Art is not made to sit quietly in frames. It is born from defiance, from culture, from place and decades of training,' the exhibition notes. The exhibition includes limited-edition prints of aeroplanes, artist-designed passports, mock boarding passes and in-flight-style amenity kits divided into ticket classes – from economy to business and first class. Some visitors, depending on their 'ticket', receive mystery art prints or a curated pack of aviation-themed merchandise. Each element is carefully designed, blending graphic design, installation and conceptual art. The silk-screen prints were produced in-house by Cultprint, some using manual printing processes that give them a handmade finish. 'This is a bit different from my usual art. It is not just paintings on the wall. It is conceptual. It is a bit of design, a bit of satire. It is about experience,' he said. At the centre of the gallery space is a 'runway' bench installation, which resembles a bench, where visitors can sit, interact and take part in talks and events. This also functions as the venue for upcoming artist talks and legal clinics, including a panel with fellow creatives and IP lawyers, and a free IP consultation clinic in August. Aviation references and irony are woven throughout the space, from red and black plane artworks to first-class 'boarding' perks and even mock in-flight food packs. The tone is playful and serious. While visitors may enjoy the novelty of unpacking an 'in-flight' gift pack, the underlying message relates to a broader conversation around copyright, corporate appropriation and artistic agency. Despite its satiric undertones, Zacharevic insisted the exhibition is not a personal attack against the airline. 'There is no bad blood. We are just bringing up the conversation. This all started as a social media post that picked up attention. But when I was looking for a name for the exhibition. I thought – We really do need to talk,' he said. We Need to Talk is open to the public on Fridays through Sundays, 12pm to 7pm, throughout July and August, at Cultprint, George Town. Entry is free, and merchandise proceeds go toward legal expenses and raising awareness about artists' rights.
Malay Mail
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Zacharevic plans legal action against AirAsia over IP infringement, launches art fundraiser
GEORGE TOWN, July 4 — Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic is preparing to bring AirAsia to court over intellectual property (IP) infringement with a fundraising interactive art installation. The artist, who shot to fame after his series of murals in Penang became well-known back in 2012, is hoping to raise RM250,000 by selling merchandise, artwork and collectibles through the exhibition. 'This is not a charity. We are selling art and merchandise including airplane models and art prints to raise funds,' he said at a media preview of the exhibition titled We Need to Talk, which opens tomorrow. The exhibition, held at Cultprint gallery space between July 5 and August 31, is an immersive, airport-themed experience that blends performance art with visual installations. Zacharevic said he chose to use an airline theme for the exhibition because there have been many cases of large corporations, like airlines, that infringed on the rights of artists all over the world. On the upcoming intellectual property (IP) infringement suit against AirAsia, Zacharevic said they are still preparing for it, so he could not confirm when he will file the suit. After issuing a legal notice to AirAsia over the use of his Children on Bicycle artwork on their plane, he said the airline did respond to the notice and talked to him. 'They are actually very professional and approachable. We tried to settle it directly as much as we can, but unfortunately, we will have to go to legal proceedings,' he said. He added that the airline is a corporation that deals with such cases in a corporate way. 'Unfortunately for us artists, we are sort of forced to deal with it in corporate ways too,' he said. He said he learnt a lot about IP infringement and how to defend his rights against corporations. 'We have to educate ourselves and learn about this,' he said. He said he was advised that he needed to raise at least RM250,000 before he takes the case against AirAsia to court. 'We were told this could be a long process, so we would need around this sum, especially when we are going up against a large corporation,' he said. He expressed his confidence in Malaysia's laws in protecting creatives' IP rights. He said more Malaysian creatives should be made aware of these laws, which the exhibition aimed to promote. 'This is not only a fundraiser but to spark conversation on artists' rights,' he said. Other than an interactive art installation experience for visitors, there will also be panel discussions and IP legal clinics. Merchandise sold at the exhibition to raise funds starts from RM50 'boarding passes' to RM5,000 'first class boarding passes'. Zacharevic's four original paintings on exhibit will also be on sale. The fundraiser was launched at 10 pm on July 3 and Zacharevic has raised RM74,107 as at 2.30 pm on July 4. The exhibition is open to the public for free from July 5 to August 31 at Cultprint, 36 Malay Street, George Town, Penang. For information on the exhibition or to purchase the merchandise online, go to or call the hotline at 011-1608 9935.
