Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic has been recognised for transforming the streets of Penang with his interactive depictions of our local children mural-typed art. You might not be that familiar with his name, but you would have probably seen some of his artwork around Malaysia. The young and talented artist has been traveling around the globe spreading his art, and recently he is back at Penang again where he debuted his first solo art show “ART IS RUBBISH IS ART”.
The title of the art show says it all. Ernest turns old and unwanted trash into art, even the venue itself, which was the old and abandoned Hin Company Bus Depot. As the place has been left vacant for many years, it was a perfect fit for the theme of the exhibition.
Us being Malaysians and all, and being that the art show is FREE admission till the 14th of February, we decided to pay Ernest and his art show a visit. Luckily for us, Ernest had some time to squeeze in a quick Borak-Borak session. Read the interview below as we get to know this Lithuanian artist a little better.
Hi, could you make a short introduction about yourself?
Okay, so my name is Ernest, I guess I’m an artist (LOL) but I don’t really consider myself as one. There’s one tutor of mine whom I really look up to when I was still in high school, told me that “nobody is an artist until they turn 33”, and by that time, he was only around 30. So for me, that’s how I feel right now, I don’t feel like an artist. But yeah, I do art, live in Penang, once in a while I travel the world and do my work on the go.
How did your career as an artist started?
It’s the interest in art, perhaps, would be the first step towards the career. It was my dad, he was an artist, and during his childhood and teenage years, he painted a lot. So, all my life, all around my house there were a lot of paintings, and I was really interested, curious and facinated about it. And the fact that my dad doesn’t do it anymore is also a very intriguing thing to me. Then I slowly discovered all his artworks, tools and started using them to make art ever since I was young. Then my parents decided to send me to Art School, and that is the beginning of everything.
Among all the countries in the world, why did you choose Malaysia, and among all the states in Malaysia, why did you choose Penang?
Uhmm, it wasn’t really a conscious choice, it was a stop of my life. The choice was to live in London before I came to Malaysia, I’ve lived there for 4 and half years. But during the time over there, I had no idea where I am going and what I want to do. One day, I just packed everything and left with my one way ticket to Indonesia. I traveled around there and went to Thailand after that. Just on my way back, I stopped by Penang just to say hi to one of my college friend and three years later, I’m still hereeee! LOL
Cool! So would you ever consider doing a collaboration with local artist? If yes, who would it be?
Well, I do when I got the opportunity to. It doesn’t have to be an artwork, it might be a project or maybe it’s just sharing the journey, not necessarily graffiti artist or whatever, it could be anyone. My latest collaboration is with my neighbor. We did a series of signboard covers together, I design and he carves it.
Among all the artworks you’ve done in Malaysia, which one is your favourite so far?
Ahh, I don’t have any favorite artwork. I really don’t. I got over it very long time ago because when you put preferences on your artwork, it’s very hard to say.
One of your artwork in JB has been erased by the government. How do you feel about that?
I don’t feel like it being erased is an issue, because many of my artworks gets erased, many of them in PENANG got erased as well. It’s really not about being erased. This artwork has been over publicized and over politicized, hahaha. And I wasn’t part of that, and I don’t want to be part of that kinds of things. But it seems like the politicians and media are the one that kinda putting this kinda things together.
A lot of people have been told that they can’t make a living just by being an artist. So, what do you think?
It’s all about self esteem really. If you keep thinking in that way, you can’t make a living by doing what you love to do. It’s not about making a living, it’s all about making a LIFE, enjoy what you do. And as long as you enjoy what you do, you’ll never loose, it doesn’t really matters at the end of the day because you will eventually get something out of it.
What would you be doing right now if you’re not an artist?
As I’ve said, I don’t really consider myself as an artist. LOL
Okay! Then, what’s your favourite Penang food?
It’s very funny because many people have asked me this question and every time I answered differently. Let me think what I’m into now, uhmmmm. I’m kinda into Indian food recently. But when I like something, I eat it all the time, and after sometimes I get sick of it. Curry Mee, I really like it.
This is the question that we always ask our interviewees. If you get stopped by a policemen in Malaysia for speeding, or whatever cause. Would you tolong or saman?
Depends how much trouble I’m in! hahahaaa! But of course I don’t agree with bribery.
Last question! What is the best advice you’ve ever recieved and the best advice you would give to someone else?
Wow, it’s a very hard question. I don’t know, it’s hard to say. “DON’T DO DRUGS”? But I would advice someone to just do what they love to do, a lot of people actually underestimate how far they could go by just doing what they love to do, even it’s drugs, hahahahha. Just joking, you can’t go far by doing that. Just do what you like, and you can’t fail with that.
