The act of plagiarism is something we've been taught about a lot back in school and university.
The dos and don'ts basically stick with us throughout our entire lives. While the more ethical among us try our best to produce original work, some people just don't care. And then there are those who choose to hide behind the pretence of 'taking inspiration' and turning a piece of work into something 'different'.
It's like copying homework but making one or two answers different so the teacher doesn't catch on.
Same same, but different? Or is it same same, and same?
IMAGE: Zhang Jingna
U.S.-based Singaporean photographer Zhang Jingna has called out Luxembourg art student Jeff Dieschburg for allegedly plagiarizing her work, or to get into more straightforward legal terms: Copyright infringement.
According to Zhang, the art student had used a photo she took of South Korean model Ji Hye Park as the 'base' for his painting, which features an asian woman of almost identical likeness, in the same pose, wearing the same robe (different color) and same head of hair. Oh, and if that isn't enough, he also painted the same flowers being held in the subject's hand. This reminds us of that one time an artist used a Singaporean model's likeness to produce a nude painting.
Dieschburg won an award for his painting, complete with a cash prize.
The most infuriating part? The 'differences' are almost too difficult to spot, and certainly not enough to warrant calling it an 'original' or even a 'transformative' piece. But you can be the judge of that:
The alleged plagiarized piece (left) and the original photo (right). Halo, polis? IMAGE: @zemotion / Instagram
"Am I crazy or is this insane," Zhang laments in a June 1 Instagram post.
"This guy rips off my work, gets exhibited at strassen_stroossen Culture Center, wins a prize of 1,500 (US$1,566), in an event supported by the government of Luxembourg and Ministry of Culture, and had it presented to Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Princess Stéphanie."
The photographer, who was featured in the 'Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia' list back in 2018 and has done notable work for various international publications like Elle and Vogue, is understandably irate. Anyone in her position would be.
Zhang had been alerted about the painting by two people from Luxembourg. One of them had seen the painting in-person at the Contemporary Art Biennale in Strassen this year, while the other had chanced upon it when Dieschburg posted it online about a year ago.
According to Delano, an English-language publication for expats living in Luxembourg, Dieschburg did not deny that his painting was 'inspired' by Zhang's photograph. However, the art student claims to have “created an image in an artisanal way” – whatever the hell that means.
“I can’t bear to see exceptional talent being persecuted for nonsense,” says Gaston Vogel, a top Luxembourg lawyer representing Dieschburg. “You can’t accuse him of plagiarism. In history, artists are inspired by each other. Those who accuse him are mistaken.”
But Zhang, along with many others in the arts community, argues that while taking inspiration from existing works is completely fine, lines need to be drawn.
"If my artistic choices and creations have no value, then people ripping off my work should have no business referencing them, right? If others can identify the original work and email me about plagiarism and infringement independently, this is really just straight up copyright infringement," she says.
"To see someone praised, awarded, winning prize money, and shamelessly doing interviews while claiming credit despite copying so much of another person’s work… The audacity and utter disrespect. I don’t know how someone begins to think that this is ok and is something they can be proud of. I’m so speechless I can’t even begin to process what to do. Just insane."
Not the first time 'inspiration' has struck Dieschburg.
Because of the flurry of attention surrounding the award-winning painting, another artist by the name of Bekka Bj?rke soon realized that Dieschburg used a couple of her photos as the 'basis' for some paintings as well.
So fucked up! Thanks to your IG post someone alerted me that he'd done the same with my own work. I hope there are repercussions. pic.twitter.com/bGeukT0gR1 — Bekka Bj?rke (@bekka) June 1, 2022
A laugh as this goes on: finally got the Greek on the painting translated, and it's a quote by the poet Pindar that reads "γ?νοι? ο?ο? ?σσ? μαθ?ν", or "Become such as you are, having learned what that is"/"Be true to what you know you are" . The irony. pic.twitter.com/5RgBPiiGiI — Bekka Bj?rke (@bekka) June 3, 2022
For now, Zhang doesn't intend to take any legal action, despite Dieschburg already lawyering up. Instead, she's opting to go the dialogue route first.
“We have strayed from the essential. My client’s work is undeniably original, it is a photograph that is known and recognized as an artistic work," says Vincent Wellens, Zhang's lawyer. "Mr Dieschburg says that he was inspired by or refers to my client’s photograph, but there are copyrights. I think the first step was to ask the author’s permission."
According to Wellens, future discussions will not rule out the possibility of financial compensation.
Read more art stories:
Artist creates hilariously cute emotes that Singaporeans will relate to
S’porean model calls out artist for allegedly using her face for a nude painting
These impressive sculptures are made completely out of cardboard
Artists turn countries into stunning, badass Olympic samurais
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