Painting is a draw
A mural in Penang is featured in a movie that will be screened worldwide.
GEORGE TOWN: A young man goes all out to woo a lovely lass. He remembers a tender moment they shared when he picked her up on his vintage bicycle, and “capitalises” on it by painting a mural of them on his two-wheeler.
The woman is moved on seeing the painting, and soon love blossoms.
This scene will be part of a romantic movie by a producer from China which will hit the silver screen in more than 5,000 cinemas around the world.
Titled Shining Love, the movie stars Thai heartthrob Yuke Songpaisarn and the angelic Sun Yao Qi from China.
The producers commissioned realism artist Dr Caryn Koh, a medical doctor from Kuala Lumpur, to paint the mural.
She completed the task on Monday night after five days on it.
Filming the scenes involving the mural was done on Tuesday.
Those who watch the movie elsewhere may be drawn to Penang for a chance to be photographed with the bicycle mural located in Lebuh Keng Kwee near the famous Penang Road Teochew Cendol stall.
Dr Koh’s manager, Tan Chor Whye, said the mural was an 11th hour addition by the producers.
“The original script used a tall picture of something else. But when the movie makers saw how much people loved the Children on Bicycle mural, they went with the flow,” Tan said.
The Children on Bicycle mural near the corner of Armenian Street and Beach Street was painted by Ernest Zacharevic for the George Town Festival 2012.
Tan described the new mural as a “grown-up version” of the one with the children.
“There is just one problem. The movie producers did not have enough time to get the necessary approval from the state’s public art review panel to have their mural prop painted,” he said, adding that the producers felt bad as they committed to the change in the script without knowing that the panel’s approval was needed.
“We submitted all the necessary documents and will abide by the panel’s decision.
“If the mural is deemed unsuitable, we will have it erased. But I hope not,” he added.
George Town World Heritage Incorporated manager Chuah Ai Kheng confirmed that the producer submitted all the documents on Monday and the panel would make a decision within two weeks.
The movie is produced by Beijing Fengren Studios Co Ltd and directed by Shi Lei of Hong Kong.