Artist sues AirAsia for using mural on plane without consent

KUALA LUMPUR — An artist based in Malaysia has filed a lawsuit against the low-cost carrier AirAsia and its parent company for allegedly using his work on a plane without permission.Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian-born artist based in Penang, claims that his 2012 street mural, has been “reproduced and displayed” as part of a livery on an aircraft operated by the Malaysian airline in late 2024. The artist has been based in Malaysia for more than a decade and is known for his road-side murals in Penang.The piece in question, “Kids on Bicycle,” is an interactive installation in the heritage district of George Town featuring two laughing children on a real bicycle. Zacharevic painted the mural as part of an art commission for a local festival in 2012.Tourists can often be seen taking pictures with the mural, now an icon in Penang.Zacharevic said his work had been “unlawfully reproduced” without consent, authorization, or licensing arrangement,” adding that the livery was removed after he had publicly raised concerns about its use.Zacharevic filed his lawsuit in the high court of Kuala Lumpur on Monday.Speaking on Thursday, Zacharevic said he became aware that an AirAsia plane had displayed a livery with artwork that appeared similar to his paintings between October and November 2024..He posted a picture of the plane on social media, tagging the airline and saying that they needed to have a conversation about the use of the artwork.Since then, he has held talks with the company, though neither side has been able to settle on terms, he said.According to the court documents, Zacharevic said he held discussions with AirAsia in 2017 about an offer to make art for the airline’s jets and a mural in one of its offices.He alleges that the airline was made fully aware of his work and business rates at the time, according to the documents.He has asked the court to determine issues related to copyright infringement, including moral rights, and unlawful interference with his trade and business interests.“No findings have been made at this stage,” he said.Zacharevic’s work, which includes public art projects in the US, Europe and Singapore, focuses on environmental and social issues. His art frequently involves site-specific street murals that blend paintings, installations and sculpture, according to his website.Malaysia’s AirAsia is the largest low-cost carrier in Asia, operating more than 200 jets to more than 100 destinations. This week, it unveiled plans to resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to London via Bahrain, marking a return to the British capital after more than a decade. — Agencies