Plagiarism accusations at the Venice Biennale
The 2017 Venice Biennale has been rocked by multiple plagiarism allegations. Kirstine Roepstorff's Danish Pavilion installation 'Influenza. Theatre of Glowing Darkness' closely resembles Roman Ondák's 2009 Slovak Pavilion piece 'Loop', blurring indoor and outdoor boundaries. Cody Choi's 'Venetian Rhapsody' outside the Korean Pavilion features yellow hands mimicking 'Welcome' that echo Patrick Tuttofuoco's 2015 work at HangarBiccocca in Milan. Vajiko Chachkhiani's Georgian Pavilion installation, a domestic interior with falling rain, recalls Manuel Felisi's 2010 Milan piece. Dirk Braeckman's photographs at the Belgian Pavilion evoke Craigie Horsfield's aesthetic. Damien Hirst, not exhibiting at the Biennale but showing 'Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable' at Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana, faces two accusations: a golden copy of a Nigerian bust (cultural appropriation) and similarities to Jason Decaires Taylor's underwater sculptures at the Grenada Pavilion. Hirst also allegedly borrowed from B-movie special effects artist Ray Harryhausen.
Key facts
- Kirstine Roepstorff's Danish Pavilion installation resembles Roman Ondák's 2009 Slovak Pavilion work.
- Cody Choi's Korean Pavilion neon sign includes hands mimicking 'Welcome' similar to Patrick Tuttofuoco's 2015 piece.
- Vajiko Chachkhiani's Georgian Pavilion rain installation recalls Manuel Felisi's 2010 Milan work.
- Dirk Braeckman's Belgian Pavilion photos evoke Craigie Horsfield's style.
- Damien Hirst's golden bust copy of a Nigerian icon sparks cultural appropriation accusations.
- Hirst's works resemble Jason Decaires Taylor's underwater sculptures.
- Hirst allegedly borrowed from Ray Harryhausen's B-movie effects.
- All allegations involve works at the 2017 Venice Biennale or related venues.
Entities
Artists
- Kirstine Roepstorff
- Roman Ondák
- Cody Choi
- Patrick Tuttofuoco
- Vajiko Chachkhiani
- Manuel Felisi
- Dirk Braeckman
- Craigie Horsfield
- Damien Hirst
- Jason Decaires Taylor
- Ray Harryhausen
- Marco Giusti
Institutions
- Venice Biennale
- Danish Pavilion
- Slovak Pavilion
- Korean Pavilion
- HangarBiccocca
- Georgian Pavilion
- Belgian Pavilion
- Palazzo Grassi
- Punta della Dogana
- Grenada Pavilion
- Artribune
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Milan
- Denmark
- Slovakia
- South Korea
- Georgia
- Belgium
- United Kingdom
- Nigeria
- Grenada
- Las Vegas