Unauthorized Rain Room replica appears at Shanghai's Jiajiale Dream Park amid widespread Chinese imitations
A replica of Random International's Rain Room, created without authorization, has been set up at Jiajiale Dream Park in Shanghai, which cost $15 million. Co-founder Hannes Koch estimates that since the original debuted at the Yuz Museum in 2015, there have been eight to ten similar attempts. These unauthorized installations have gained popularity in several Chinese cities, including Beijing, Ningbo, Fuzhou, Yinchuan, and Xining. The design collective is currently looking into possible violations of intellectual property rights. Koch pointed out a rental agency for Rain Room that allegedly misused the collective's branding and exhibition history. Additionally, Jiajiale Dream Park intends to feature installations inspired by Yayoi Kusama's works and a piece reminiscent of Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night (1889), underscoring ongoing issues with art replication in China's entertainment sector.
Key facts
- An unauthorized replica of Random International's Rain Room installed at Shanghai's Jiajiale Dream Park
- Jiajiale Dream Park cost $15 million
- Original Rain Room shown at Yuz Museum in 2015
- Hannes Koch estimates 8-10 imitation attempts have occurred
- Imitations have appeared in Beijing, Ningbo, Fuzhou, Yinchuan, and Xining
- Random International investigating potential intellectual property infringement
- Park planning installations resembling Yayoi Kusama's Dots Obsession (2003) and Infinity Mirrored Rooms (2011)
- Additional attraction planned recalling Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night (1889)
Entities
Artists
- Hannes Koch
- Yayoi Kusama
- Vincent van Gogh
Institutions
- Random International
- Yuz Museum
- Jiajiale Dream Park
- The Art Newspaper
Locations
- Shanghai
- China
- Beijing
- Ningbo
- Fuzhou
- Yinchuan
- Xining