Taipei Gallery Accuses Estée Lauder of Plagiarizing Artist's Installation for Wuzhen Product Launch

Project Fulfill Art Space in Taipei has publicly accused Estée Lauder Companies China Affiliate (ELCCA) of plagiarizing artist Chen Sung-Chih's installation for a product launch event. The gallery claims ELCCA appropriated and altered Chen's site-specific work Untitled-WZ, which was exhibited at the 2019 Wuzhen Contemporary Art Exhibition from March 31 to June 30. According to the statement, ELCCA contacted the gallery in May about a potential collaboration with Chen Sung-Chih, but communication ceased after Project Fulfill Art Space shared the artist's conditions. The gallery confirmed no materials were provided to any cosmetic company and that M·A·C's Powder Kiss Lipstick Project launch in Wuzhen used the artwork without authorization from either the gallery or artist. Project Fulfill Art Space stated neither they nor Chen authorized any collaboration with ELCCA, and that the company's independent fabrication of the artwork has seriously damaged their reputation and rights. While condemning the appropriation, the gallery acknowledged legal challenges in pursuing visual plagiarism cases in court. Project Fulfill Art Space has demanded an apology from ELCCA to restore their reputation and correct misunderstandings, along with an investigation to assign accountability for the infringement. Estée Lauder Companies China Affiliate has not responded to the allegations.