Ernest Zacharevic: Difference between revisions

Zacharevic creates oil paintings, installations, sculptures and stencil and spray paint to produce culturally relevant compositions both inside gallery space and in the arena of public art and walls<ref>{{Cite web|title = Fascinating Street Art by Ernest Zacharevic {{!}} Yatzer|url = http://www.yatzer.com/ernest-zacharevic|website = Yatzer.com|accessdate = 2015-05-23|first = Costas|last = Voyatzis|date = 21 February 2015}}</ref> His interest in the outdoor pieces is in the interaction between mural and the urban landscape, with concepts arising as part of a spontaneous response to the environment.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Fascinating Street Art by Ernest Zacharevic {{!}} Yatzer|url = http://www.yatzer.com/ernest-zacharevic|website = Yatzer.com|accessdate = 2015-05-25|first = Costas|last = Voyatzis|date = 21 February 2015}}</ref> As well as his on street works Ernest creates originals on canvas and found objects alike. These works belong to private collections and institutions across the world including the Ritz Carlton and Dean Collection, a private collection of works owned and maintained by [[Swizz Beatz|Swizz Beats]].

In 2012, Zacharevic received worldwide recognition after creating a series of six street art murals for the [[George Town, Penang|George Town]] Festival in [[Penang]], Malaysia, with the [[BBC News|BBC]] calling him Malaysia's answer to [[Banksy]].<ref>{{Cite webnews|title = Trending: Ernest Zacharevic, Malaysia's answer to Banksy|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24924283|website = BBC News|accessdate = 2015-05-23|first = BBC Trending What's|last = popular|work = BBC News|date = 13 November 2013}}</ref> These images depict scenes of everyday Malaysian life using local people as the models. The two most popular are ''Children on Bicycle'' and ''Boy on Motorcycle''; a combination of installation and painting allows the outside community to interact with the works. These murals now stand as cultural landmarks in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]], complete with plaques and frequent queues of people waiting to have their photographs taken with the works.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Street art by Ernest Zacharevic|url = httphttps://www.timeout.com/penang/art/street-art-by-ernest-zacharevic|accessdate = 2015-05-23}}</ref>

Zacharevic held his first solo show in [[Penang]] in 2012 at the [[Hin Bus Depot]], a centre for arts and culture located in George Town ''Art is Rubbish Rubbish is Art''.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Juxtapoz Magazine - Ernest Zacharevic "Art is Rubbish/Rubbish is Art" @ Hin Company Bus Depot, Penang, Malaysia|url = http://www.juxtapoz.com/street-art/ernest-zacharevic-art-is-rubbish-rubbish-is-art-hin-company-bus-depot-penang-malaysia|accessdate = 2015-05-23}}</ref> A collection of 30 plus works painted on reclaimed and found materials.

In 2013 Zacharevic received viral attention for his on-street work with the controversial lego mural in [[Johor Bahru]], home to Malaysian "[[Legoland]]". Using the lego figures, Zacharevic comments on the violent state of JB, positioning them on a street corner, as a woman carrying a Chanel bag approaches, a masked villain waits around the corner for her. The piece was buffed over quickly, but not before the image went viral, with thousands of people showing their support for the mural and the serious statement it was making.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Malaysian authorities paint over Ernest Zacharevic's Lego mural over fears it will hurt tourism|date = 13 November 2013|url = http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/malaysian-authorities-paint-over-ernest-zacharevics-lego-mural-over-fears-it-will-hurt-tourism/story-e6frfq80-1226759375985|accessdate = 2015-05-23}}</ref>

Zacharevic also painted a series of murals in [[Singapore]], one of the most restrictive countries in the world in terms of street art. He created ''Children in Shopping Trolleys'' and one of his most iconic concepts ''Style Wars''.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Jousting Painters on the Streets of Singapore by Ernest Zacharevic|date = 29 October 2013|url = http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/10/jousting-painters-in-singapore-by-ernest-zacharevic/|accessdate = 2015-05-27}}</ref> The piece sees two duelling children about to engage in combat with mops and brooms upon crayon illustrated horses.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Playing On The Walls In Singapore|url = httphttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/jaime-rojo-steven-harrington/ernest-zacharevic-_b_4104136.html|website = The Huffington Post|accessdate = 2015-05-23}}</ref>

In 2014 Zacharevic opened his second solo show 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' in [[Barcelona]] at Montana Gallery.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cheng |first1=Susan |title=Relive the Joys of Childhood Though Ernest Zacharevic's "Rock, Paper, Scissors!" Show at Montana Gallery |url=https://www.complex.com/style/2014/03/preview-relive-the-joys-of-childhood-with-ernest-zacharevics-rock-paper-scissors-show |website=Complex.com |accessdate=10 July 2018}}</ref> The collection saw a juxtaposition of more figurative works featuring characters from different cultures all dynamic poses and actions<ref>{{Cite web|title = ernest zacharevic {{!}} Montana World|url = http://www.mtn-world.com/blog/tag/ernest-zacharevic/|website = www.mtn-world.com|accessdate = 2015-05-23}}</ref>

Since 2016 sawErnest has directed focus to the initiation of the [[Splash and Burn]] Project, an artist led [[artivism]] campaign which used street art to communicate issues concerning the unsustainable production of Palm Oil in South East Asia. Since its inception, the project has collaborated with 9 international artists all creating works to generate awareness of the issues towards positive change.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lamb |first1=Kate |title=Where theresthere's a Wall theresthere's a way |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/may/15/splash-and-burn-artists-take-aim-at-sumatra-palm-oil-industry-indonesia-ernest-zacharevic |accessdate=10 July 2018 |agency=The Guardian |date=15 May 2015}}</ref>

The project was inspired by Martha’s iconic book "Street Play” which captured carefree [[New York City]] kids in the late 1970's1970s. In his signature style, Ernest brings Martha’s subjects back to the streets; combining elements of painting and installation.

Splash and Burn is a public art project curated by Ernest Zacharevic and coordinated by Charlotte Pyatt, run in association with the SOS [[Sumatran Orangutan Society]] and the OIC [[Orangutan Information Centre]]. The aim is to provide an alternative platform for organisations and NGOs fighting to initiate positive change by embracing the weight of the Street Art community, inviting international artists to create murals/sculptures and interventions in and around the urban landscape of [[Medan]] [[Indonesia]]. Ernest hopes to raise a wider consciousness of conservation issues globally while helping to facilitate relationships with communities directly. [http://www.splashandburn.org Splash and Burn] is an ongoing initiative. The latest project was realised in 2019 by Spanish Artist ESCIF, which involved a rewind symbol carved into a palm oil planation in Indonesia to be rewilded with trees indigenous to the surrounding rainforests. In Collaboration with Indonesian musician Nursalim Yadi Anugerah, REWILD was accompanied by a short film produced by Studio Birthplace currently on the festival circuit.

In May 2016, Zacharevic went to [[Christmas Island]], an Australian Territory in the [[Indian Ocean]] at the invitation of Christmas Island Phosphates and the local Shire government for a scoping trip to beautify the island landscape. He left behind his first ever Australian art installation with 'Forklift Boy,' near a local tavern. An abandoned forklift adjacent to a shipping container provided the canvas for the piece. It is similar in aesthetic to his Boy and Girl on a Bike and Boy on a Motorbike art installations in [[George Town, Penang|George Town]], [[Penang]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-10/christmas-island-street-art/7402618|title = Christmas Island street art paints a new picture|date = 10 May 2016}}</ref>

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[[Category:People from Penang]]

[[Category:Street artartists]]