He said that sometime in October 2024, he discovered that the artwork in question, “Children on a Bicycle”, had been featured on an AirAsia plane.

The artwork is one of Zacharevic’s murals in George Town, Penang, which he says he painted in 2012. The mural was repainted in 2024, following public concerns that it was deteriorating due to natural weathering.

Zacharevic alleged it was not the first time that AirAsia had used his artwork. He claimed the company had used some of his other artistic creations as promotional material in the past.

He said he approached the airline for an amicable settlement at the end of 2024, but no agreement was reached.

In his lawsuit, he is seeking recognition of his rights as an artist, an injunction against AirAsia from further using the artwork, and damages.

Lawyer Joachim Francis Xavier told reporters that the lawsuit was filed today.

“The ‘Children on a Bicycle’ artwork was removed by AirAsia after the plaintiff (Zacharevic) approached them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zacharevic told reporters that “Children on a Bicycle” was a distinct artistic creation, not a natural or generic feature.

“I will leave it to the court to decide,” he added.