The Guardian picks ‘Little Children’

GEORGE TOWN: Other than its good food and rich heritage, Penang’s many murals are also fast gaining popularity among tourists from all over the world.

One of these art pieces was featured in a recent post on British national daily The Guardian website.

The daily had asked its readers to submit their favourite photos of “graffiti” via its online platform – Guardian Witness.

The newspaper started the assignment following news that the world-famous “graffiti mecca” known as 5 Pointz in New York City may be demolished.

Titled “Graffiti around the world – Guardian readers share their best photos” (www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/guardianwitness-blog/gallery/2013/oct/25/graffiti-around-the-world-best-photos), a total of 15 out of 378 contributions from around the globe were selected.

Among the 15 was “Little Children On A Bicycle” which was chosen as one of the best on a post dated Oct 25.

The art installation and mural was created by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic in conjunction with George Town Fes­tival 2012.

It depicts a little girl with a cheeky expression cycling while a younger boy clings on for dear life behind her on an actual old bicycle.

It has since become one of the most famous and loved street artworks in George Town, with foreign and domestic tourists alike posing there for photographs.

However, the famous mural has also been a target of vandalism.

In August last year, vandals splattered wax above the mural, drawing ire from the public.

The mural was later restored by siblings Tan Jia Hang, 20, and Jia Shin, 19, who used a penknife and hot water to remove the wax.

In July, the mural was splashed with dhal curry in the wee hours which was then washed off by graphic designer Kenny Thi, 30.

Again on Sept 3, someone scribbled a word on top of it. The perpetrator, who apparently wanted to write “nonsense” above the mural misspelt it as “nonsence”.