Artist claims DBKK plagiarised his work
KOTA KINABALU: An artist hopes the public will appreciate his art as a show of support for the creative industry.
Crig Francis, 41, fondly known as Cracko Art, said he was approached by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) in February last year to come up with a design to beautify Padang Merdeka here.
“I submitted three designs to the authority, together with a quotation of my rates. After the general election last year, I was informed that the project had been postponed.
“I was later shocked to see my design painted on the staircases at Padang Merdeka,” Crig said, adding that the art, which resembled his design, was completed last month and was posted on City Hall’s Facebook page.
The completed art differed from his design a little. It added an ape, an inverted hornbill and lightened the colour tone of his design.
He was speaking to reporters after several attempts to get an explanation from City Hall.
Crig approached the college that collaborated with City Hall to find out who painted the art, but failed to get any information.
Crig, who has been active as a visual artist in Sabah since 1999, said artists in the state did not get much support.
He said some of their artwork had been plagiarised.
“In this case, I am just hoping for an apology from City Hall and hope there is no repeat.”
Mayor Datuk Nordin Saiman said he was not aware of the case and was willing to meet Crig to clarify the situation and give him credit.