Bianca Beetson

you tell em hon… till you turn blue…

THERE ARE DIFFERENT COPYRIGHT RULES FOR USING INDIGENOUS INSPIRATIONS, PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELF OTHERWISE YOU JUST LOOK LIKE AN IGNORANT, THIEVING, RIP-OFF MERCHANT… IT’S NICE TO ADMIRE AND WORSHIP, BUT DON’T STEAL… PLEASE!!!

I think I may be guilty of just that pinkstinks and I apologise profusely. I really did not know it was taboo and if I did, I would not have created what I did I really had the intention of creating this as a tribute in reflection of the events that occurred on the 13th of February this year. So if this truly offends as it seems that it does, I will take it down and apologise again for causing any distress. Lisa

I’ve BM’d you Bianca, but I would like to add in Lisa’s defence that I certainly wasn’t aware that each “mob” had it’s own imagery …. but I can understand your frustration with the rip off merchants.

Hey… just my 20c cents this morning from a whitewoman… who know less than I wish to know… I think in my novice eye… that your ‘influenced’ creation jemima is not as offensive as it could… and this will be furthering education for moi too… so I hope Bianca gets a little time later to confirm or deny! as I see it… dots are traditionally used by the more central (desert) people… they have extremely different symbols too Cath… before Europeans arrived, this Island was more or less lots of neighbouring countries each with their own tribe and law… moving on though… the colours are bright and vivid… the dots are all the same size, and you have been influenced by the layout style… I am very much influenced by these artists too… and have long chatted with Bianca about this type of cross-cultural influence as we as born australian europeans NEED at times to connect with the original owners of the land… to appease perhaps but that’s how I feel…

Jemima, the one thing you need to do more than anything though is to find out the significance of the intense symbols you have used… the concentric circles for example are representative of meeting places etc… each aboriginal artists tells an elaborate story in the more traditional works and to just copy the symbols (god please don’t take that the wrong way) isn’t cutting it… you know… you may also need to at least contact the people those symbols come from, or some indigenous body to MAKE SURE you haven’t crossed any boundaries… they are magical symbols and they also mean stuff… you wouldn’t for example want to do a positive piece influenced by indigenous artists and then find out you’ve used men’s symbols inappropriately etc… there are strict protocols…

I know it is really hard… my first design job was working for the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy…

The best way to avoid problems is to collaborate with an indigenous person… that way you know you are doing the right thing…

Bianca gets very stressed about it… but I think that there are worse cases than yours… too…

You can see our cross cultural collab here (artists rationale is page 2) we sold it to qld health as a successful cross-cultural collab… lots of bucks from that one…

and if you are interested, there is some detail in this story (second part) about my experiences working at DATSIP

it’s so hard… especially when it’s sooooo beautiful to behold!

I’d have thought that use of ANY artwork without permission was a big issue.

I guess over the years some of the old ‘masters’ have been copied with variations by other artists. This all began prior to any real copyright laws and I think has become some type of tradition. e.g. consider the number of “Mona Lisa’s” floating around with varying (even male!) faces…..

But perhaps what is at stake here is more than re-use of artwork. Is is re-use of ‘style’? For example, if I take a brush (real or in ps) and create an image of a fish using a technique similar to some Aboriginal artworks, is that wrong? I can see two arguments here:

On one hand, the impressionists did similar things (seurat for example). I don’t see particularly that a style should be locked down to one set of people.

On the other hand, producing artwork that appears, for all intents and purposes, to be indigineous in origin, I do feel to be taking away from indigenous populations. I, for one, despise the sale of items purported to be aboriginal which are in fact made in the suburbs by people who have no connection. (or worse, made in china copies).

I guess there’s sometimes a fine line between the two though, which is why i can sort of see both sides.

When I took The Blue Lagoon I dismissed a couple of alternative shots because there was some artwork carved into the stone. I’d have liked to have included them, but I felt it was not right. I did not own that artwork, nor have the right to use it, even as part of the landscape or as some artistic treatment of same. (And lets leave Campbells Cream of Mushroom Soup out of this at the moment).

If I could somehow take a picture to represent australia, I might feel that emu feet would be nice somewhere. Or some hint or flavour of our indigineous landlords should be displayed. In that instance, I would either seek permission to use some existing artwork, or synthasize something that was indicative of the style without appearing to be ‘authentic’.

Of course, before redbubble, I had no opportunity to interact with my indigenous brothers and sisters – our sorrowful intervention in Australia stole that opportunity from this little white boy!

So anyway, I’d welcome comments. Given my understanding and feeling – how close or far am I?

if anyone wants to jump into this dialouge with the vibichripoffartist they are more than welcome….....

Hey Pinkstinks, Well said and thank you for speaking on behalf of all of us.

Hi Bianca, I’m sorry to read you have to endure such utter bullshit.

I read julies post re: people rippin off your work thru the a.r.s.e forums which brought me here. I’m disgusted beyond belief. I spent time several ys ago travelling thru parts of the Nthrn territory & Ayers rock. I felt such great shame to see indigineous people struggle on the streets to survive let alone sell their art. It makes me sick to the bone when people try to profit off Aborginal art. Sick to the bone.

Remain strong.

vitbich sent me this.

You been acusing the wrong person.
http://stores.ebay.com/Pastiche-Art_Aboriginal_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ2QQftidZ2QQtZkm

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/FAIR-TRADE-Handmade-Wood-Boomerang-Aboriginal-Style-D6_W0QQitemZ220230509748QQihZ012QQcategoryZ117214QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://search.ebay.com.au/_W0QQsassZtina230969

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GRAHAM-BLONDEL-ABORIGINAL-DOT-STYLE-PAINTING-6FT-X-4FT_W0QQitemZ350006795189QQihZ022QQcategoryZ27158QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

My reply was no vitbich you are one of many that needs to stop copying this style of art, you and others need to be original not aboriginal, do you understand.

I’m really glad that you have brought this to our attention, I didn’t even realise how ignorant I was. I had very little understanding of these issues, so thank you. I think it’s important for you to remain connected so you can educate people.

Most people have the attitude that if it doesn’t affect them, then it doesn’t matter. Until you know someone or are educated about how this affects Aboriginal communities you remain ignorant.

I didn’t even consider it until you brought it to my attention.

Don’t be angry though, there are people out there who are not trying to hurt you, they are just ignorant. Try and make friends with them, then they will take notice, as I just have.

Thanks Kathleen for taking the time to explain to me a little about the ins and outs of Aboriginal art. I am guilty of ignorance with the work that I did, which is no excuse, but I need be no more.

It is shameful really how ignorant the general public are about this issue, and I am glad that Bianca has decided to make everyone more aware so that others do not offend.

Again I am sorry and I will enjoy learning more about your beautiful art Bianca. =)