Sabah artist up in arms over mural lookalike

Crig Francis’ design (top) and the mural at Padang Merdeka.

KOTA KINABALU: A local artist has questioned the resemblance between a mural adorning a concrete grandstand at Padang Merdeka here and the design he submitted to the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), saying he was made to understand that the project had been called off.

Crig Francis said he was approached in February last year by an officer from DBKK’s economics, tourism and international relations bureau who asked for a concept design for the mural.

Francis, known locally as Cracko Art, said the officer asked him to come up with three designs to be used as part of DBKK’s efforts to beautify the city.

“But her request was very general, so I had to really think about how to make it interesting,” he told FMT.

Several weeks later, he submitted his designs along with his quotations.

“I waited for some time before following up, but they told me the project could be postponed or cancelled,” he added.

Crig Francis.

After the general election in May, he said, he was told that the project had been called off. But he was later informed by a friend that it would proceed.

He said he was fine with this but told his friend he hoped his designs would not be used.

When the project began, he said, his friend sent him a screenshot of the mural design.

“My heart dropped when I saw how similar it was to one of my designs.”

According to him, the only difference was the addition of an orangutan and rafflesia flower.

“The colour scheme all followed my design. I can understand if they followed a design from the internet, but I never shared my proposals on social media or showed them to anyone other than the DBKK officer,” he said.

Francis said he reached out to DBKK but was told that no one knew who had commissioned or painted the mural. He also tried to catch the officer who approached him at a recent event in the city but was unsuccessful.

He said he eventually discovered that the mural had been painted by four students from a local institution but added that no names were given.

He spoke to the press about the matter yesterday, following which he said he received a call from the office of the Kota Kinabalu mayor.

“The mayor’s personal assistant said the mayor had asked me to come to his office to talk, but I had to go outstation for work,” he said, adding that he might go by next week instead.

“All I want is a public apology from the person in charge, and a promise from DBKK that they will not do the same thing again.”

When contacted, mayor Nordin Siman said he only learnt of the matter after reading the news.

“My officers are checking and conducting a probe,” he told FMT.

“The DBKK director-general was supposed to meet the artist this morning, but that didn’t take place.

“We will find out about this and let you know soon.” - FMT