Minions make their mark on traffic bollard

GEORGE TOWN: Penangites have been going all out for minions, the lovable characters from the Despicable Me movies.

This time, the cylinder-shaped creatures were painted on a concrete traffic bollard by international artist Ernest Zacharevic.

The painting has been drawing crowds to Soo Hong Lane, off Armenian Street.

Zacharevic, who is famed for his murals in the George Town heritage enclave, posted a picture of his work on Facebook on Saturday with the caption “Goodbye Penang!” and since then, visitors have been flocking to take pictures with the minions.

The painting, believed to be the first of its kind in Penang, depicts a two-eyed minion sitting on a one-eyed minion, both dressed in blue overalls as shown in the movies.

Among the minion-struck was student Tan Hooi Xin, 21, who was spotted snapping pictures with her friends Ooi Jun Sze, Ong Xiao Mei and Michelle Tan, all 21.

“It’s really very adorable. This time, the artwork by Ernest is taking a different twist. Instead of a wall mural, it’s on a pillar,” said Hooi Xin.

On Sunday, a photo of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty and youngest son Ethan posing with the minions was also posted on his Facebook page.

It was reported in a Chinese daily on Sunday that Zacharevic would be leaving Penang for a holiday after completing his latest artwork.

The minion is one of the most notable characters in the Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2 movies and the toys have taken the country by storm.