02/24/2016
Re: You be the judge...
CONVERSATION ON PLAGIARISM & ART
Last Friday I shared a post published on The Sole Adventurer on here about two art works that looked like they came from the same source. Or lets say a case of one artist copying another's work. By end of Saturday I had received a few calls pleading that I take the post down on behalf of Joe Amenechi and also help keep out of public discussions (at least from my Facebook). While I have no power to control the public's use of that information, I obliged and took it down on all places within my control. However i requested a statement to effect why. Here is one from James Amenechi, a Lawyer and brother to Joe Amenechi.
(I have again tagged everyone I tagged in the first post. I apologize for the disturbance or inconvenience to you but it matters that you know why I pulled it down. Bukola Oye.
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Message Body:
The artist Joe Amenechi has instructed me to make this statement in respect of a post on The Sole Adventurer blog re two works - the first by Ugo Ananaba titled Crystal Eyes and the other - Peeping Boy - which was exhibited by Joe at his last show - Pieces Of Me.
Joe confirms that Ugo Ananaba's work is first in time and acknowledges that Ugo should have been credited appropriately as the source for Peeping Boy.
Both artists are in touch with each other and are in the process of settling all the issues arising and the hurt caused. Be assured that the lessons learnt have been taken on board and the length of this statement should not be read as diminution of the gravity of the moment.
We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
James Amenechi.
This is not a matter between two people.
It is a symptom of a larger malaise that must be handled beyond two people.
I am scared that a Nigerian artist will copy my work, especially since I post them everyday on social media.
It raises issues of security of art and artists in Nigeria.
It cannot just be swept under the carpet.
It must be met by a public debate because all of us are hurt.
A crime is not just a private matter.
It is a matter of public injury, and public restitution must be paid.
Ayoola
I think sentiments will becloud reason at the end of the day. The point will be missed and nothing will be learnt. Maybe this is what Prof okediji is saying. A while ago, i shared points on the discuss of Copy and Derivative and it wasn't taken in the direction meant because egos overtook reasoning. Maybe this case will help more understanding
Ayoola
This scourge should be seen as a common problem and it's not peculiar to us.
Years ago, Picasso claimed its cool to steal as long as you can distort enough to show you're merely deriving
I'm sure Olowe of ISE and other African carvers of that time whom Picasso stole ideas from would have deferred
Ayoola
And personally, I'm a firm believer of there's nothing new under the sun because of the constant flux of energy
Uniqueness lies in arrangements/composition/application
So when we talk about issues as this case of copy against derivation, artists would know where they stand.
Olabisi
I don't think you should have taken it down because the integrity of your online magazine is comprised. You are not the one in the wrong and those days of people behaving badly and begging forgiveness is over. It is like taking $4b and beginning for forgiveness. You did the right thing and we all respected your foresight and rigour in pointing it out. This defiant act has now been put your professional into question. If something else you think is wrong comes up can we trust you to bring it up and defend your right to do so. The winner here is the person who cheated. The losers here are the artists doing their work honestly.
Olabisi
As for Ayoola I don't know what he is talking about. His argument seems devoid of professional ethics and good faith. It is an everything goes and everything is okay vacuous argument. He might as well be saying dear Artists copy away and don't mind even acknowledging the source. Shebi there is no original art and you have no right to any intellectual capital. So lets pirate away and destroy our own industry. Jeez gimme patience.
Ayoola
Taking it down makes you an accomplice of sort
Olabisi
Exactly
Ayoola
Olabisi read patiently pls
I haven't said anything that seems as an approval lol
Olabisi
Olabisi
ok maybe tomorrow. tired now. Night.
Ayoola
I'm just saying we need to educate ourselves. Why and how so and so applies
Olabisi
Ayoola
Some Artists don't even know the difference between derivation and copy honestly and I'm saying this particular case can be a catalyst to illuminate rather than just make it all about criminality
This is why instead of pulling it down from your blog, I'll suggest digging deeper on the discuss
Which is why I said earlier "sentiment will becloud reason" at the end of the day if we are not careful. No knowledge will be gained
Ayoola
This situation shouldn't be a case of "When the cow falls all of a sudden there are a million butchers" Arabic proverb
Tue 7:21pm
I posted the link on University of African Art, FB group and refused to pill it down when people began to question me, beg me, harass me, even.
Discussions are still going on on the FB of UAA on the matter.
But when folks click on the link, they realize that it has been pulled down at the original link.
Why is it easy for me to resist intimidation, and other can't hold the fort? Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that I don't live in Nigeria. I do not have to face physical harm if attacked.
Concerning Picasso--Ayoola Gbolahan, he did not copy African art.He was influenced by African art.
One must be careful when going down the slippery slope, otherwise one would be in the pits before realizing it.
I would not touch a Joe Amenechi work with a barge pole. Anyone who has any of his work should find out if he copied the work from some other artist.
Olusegun Adejumo left the conversation.
Bukola
I am following and reading all the comments.
Ayoola
Me sef dey read lol
Tue 11:58pm
Olabisi
I don't think this private space is the best for what should be a platform for public art discussion. I think self censorship is not good. You did no wrong. Like Moyo maybe I don't understand the politics of things. So am out.
Olabisi Silva left the conversation.
1:34am
Ngozi
Good morning all! All this happened in my sleep? The artist that copied should have publicly apologised. This is the reason why so many people don't share their work on Fb and other platforms, so that it will not be copied. Should we also stop cataloging our works for exhibitions because of this same problem?
2:36am
Mufu
Good morning all.
First to Bukola: if u can't defend what you believe in, don't preach it. Sometime in 2009 or thereabouts, I published an article in The Guardian titled 'A Thief in the Art House'. It's d story of one Unilag Architecture lecturer (a lady) who stole a pen and ink work belonging to an Art student in d same institution; she scrubbed off the poor boy's signature from the work, imputed her own signature and submitted d work for a commercial exhibition at Mydrim Gallery. While still investigating everyone involved before going to Press, a popular Nigerian artist from Yabatech called me, spoke extensively - begging me not to publish d story. I asked him a simple question: "Put yourself in that boy's shoes; someone stole your work and exhibited it for commercial purpose, would that make u happy?" He left me alone and sent my close friend who is now a lecturer at Lagos Poly to do with me what he had failed to do. Two days later, the story was published and d art community screamed blue murder! That in a way put everyone - artists and buyers of stolen works - in check.
If we see the bad work of people and look d other way, we'll be unknowing tied to procreation of multiplicity of bad people. So the choice is ours.
AYOOLA: We should not make statement that has an iota of encouragement for copyists. It's not in d best interest of our profession. That's why Bisi has sharply reacted d way she did and I agreed with her. My heart bleeds when support to copyists and plagiarists comes from within. Whether u call it derivation or copy or plagiarism, a thief is a thief and should be addressed as such. As professionals, we should strive to promote integrity and credibility which can only come from 'sacred' originality of creativity.
The idea of artists not knowing d difference between copy and derivative does not hold water. We all know what is bad. That's why we went to art schools. Even those who underwent informal training - I have many of them around me - know the significance of originality in creativity. In fact, they also know the dangers of copying ideas from other artists.
Egbon Moyo, thank you so much sir for your intervention in Picasso's contact with Africa. Agba o ni tan l'orile. Sir, my column of those days, ARTSSESSMENT attracted to me a long retinue of enemies. In fact, when I reviewed an exhibition by Yabatech, I got an info that some of the lecturers who didn't get positive reviews were planning to attack me. Instead of keeping away out of fear, I went to the school on my own, entered everyone lecturer's office and exchanged banters with them before I finally ended up serving as Master of Ceremony at Mr. Oshinowo's retirement ceremony from d school. What I am trying to say is this, and it rubs off on Bukola's action: once you are known for your principles, people just let u be. They'll say, "O 'o mon on ni? Were ma ni!" But in a way, u do your job with a clear conscience and leave the rest to providence.
In my opinion, Bukola should not have pulled down d story at all. Reason: some of us were still referring to it at art gatherings and when teaching art students against such dastardly acts. Now that it is no longer there, we have become liars! That means any copyist can go ahead and do his thing; even if the art community gets to know, they will only shout briefly and keep shut. Where then lies d integrity of the blog! By the way, what if the story ha gone out in hard copies and circulated? Food for thoughts!
I am acceding to Bisi's suggestion not make this a platform to discuss this kind of art issues. So, I am outta here!
Uchay Joel Chima left the conversation.
Ngozi Schommers left the conversation.
Bukola, I salute you for starting thia conversation.
Now make it public again.
We should not be discussing it here.
If you make it public, I will join the conversation.
Until then, I will leave this discussion because it sounds like quiet gossip.
