J-Artist's Unbearable Likeness of Being

[Mulboyne]

Sughi and Wada. Or is it Wada and Sughi?

Kyodo via Yahoo: Agency probing allegations of plagiarism from Italian artist Sughi
The Agency for Cultural Affairs is looking into allegations that works by noted Italian artist Alberto Sughi were plagiarized by a Japanese painter who received a government award this spring, agency officials said. The Japanese artist, Yoshihiko Wada, 66, has denied plagiarism, saying he produced the paintings under the same motifs as those of Sughi, 77, the officials said. Sughi told the agency Wada's pieces are clearly plagiarism of his works, they said...At least seven paintings by Wada from 1981 to 2004 are said to have close similarities to Sughi's paintings.

[Greji]

Sughi and Wada. Or is it Wada and Sughi?

Kyodo via Yahoo: Agency probing allegations of plagiarism from Italian artist Sughi
The Agency for Cultural Affairs is looking into allegations that works by noted Italian artist Alberto Sughi were plagiarized by a Japanese painter who received a government award this spring, agency officials said. The Japanese artist, Yoshihiko Wada, 66, has denied plagiarism, saying he produced the paintings under the same motifs as those of Sughi, 77, the officials said. Sughi told the agency Wada's pieces are clearly plagiarism of his works, they said...At least seven paintings by Wada from 1981 to 2004 are said to have close similarities to Sughi's paintings.

The key statement here is "...he produced the paintings under the same motifs...."! Holy shit, just looking at these two, would he think we are not familiar with the concept of xerox? It is not even a contest. If they don't slam dunk this asshole in court, something is definately wrong with the world!

[Charles]

If they don't slam dunk this asshole in court, something is definately wrong with the world!

There are no courts involved here, it isn't even a copyright violation since the works are derivative and not direct copies. The worst that could happen is that the Bunkachou could revoke his medals. BFD.

[nullpointer]

Nihonjin copying from a gaijin? Would it not cause a singularity conflict and result in the destruction of the Universe?

[cstaylor]

You mean because he got caught? Otherwise, isn't that business as usual?

[Catoneinutica]

You mean because he got caught? Otherwise, isn't that business as usual?

Business as usual indeed. Making J-companies' complaints about Chinese copyright and patent transgressions all the more comical...

[Mulboyne]

MDN: Artists see red over Japanese painter's plagiarism

A group of Japanese painters has sent a letter to award-winning painter Yoshihiko Wada, recommending he should quit the group after members decided that he plagiarized an Italian painter's works. The governmental Agency for Cultural Affairs is investigating the allegations. The painting section of the Kokugakai artist group sent the letter to Wada, 66, on Wednesday. If Wada does not respond by June 15, the group will dismiss him. Kokugakai officials said that the painting section's commission had unanimously decided to recommend Wada quit. "We cannot forgive him for plagiarism," one member said. Meanwhile, the Takashimaya Department store has decided not to display Wada's paintings during an exhibition it plans to hold at its five stores from June 7. Three paintings of Wada had been expected to be put on display during the exhibition. "We decided not to display his works after talking with him," a Takashimaya official said.

I wonder if this makes him a candidate for suicide watch?

[ojara]

spoiled everything.
Japanese art market survive not art.
the painting circles has eran money except for real art.

[Taro Toporific]

spoiled everything.

Statement Alberto Sughi

"I was informed, at first by the Japanese embassy in Rome and then directly by officials from Tokyo, of an investigation by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan on accusations brought against Japanese artist Yoshihiko Wada. Wada, who was recently awarded an important Education Minister's prize, is accused of having plagiarised my work. Through an examination of the catalogues and photographs presented to me, I was able to verify that most of Wada’]http://www.albertosughi.com/[/url]

[Greji]

There are no courts involved here, it isn't even a copyright violation since the works are derivative and not direct copies. The worst that could happen is that the Bunkachou could revoke his medals. BFD.

Chas, is there something I'm missing here?

Statement Alberto Sughi
".....This gross plagiarism violates the rights of the artist as sole owner of his image: a very serious offence under international law...."

[Charles]

Chas, is there something I'm missing here?

Yeah, he's exaggerating. There's nothing quite as strident as an artist who feels wronged over his work.

You know, the worst part of this is, they're BOTH such crappy painters. Why would anyone plagiarize such crap? You'd have to be really crappy yourself, to copy such crap and pass it off as your own.

[Greji]

Why would anyone plagiarize such crap?

Crap-doshi?

[Mulboyne]

Who knows where Sughi got his inspiration?

[Ptyx]

You know, the worst part of this is, they're BOTH such crappy painters. Why would anyone plagiarize such crap? You'd have to be really crappy yourself, to copy such crap and pass it off as your own.

I totally agree, but the fact that the Education Minister decided to award him a prize make them the true winners of the crappy art contest.

[kurohinge1]

Usually it's the model who is stripped, not the painter ...

Japanese painter Wada to be stripped of art award over plagiarism claims

The Agency for Cultural Affairs decided Monday to strip Japanese painter Yoshihiko Wada of the education minister's prize he was awarded in this spring's art recommendations, after concluding several of his works appeared to be plagiarized.

. . . Wada is accused of plagiarizing works of Italian artist Alberto Sughi.

. . . Opinions were also sought from Japanese art critic Shuji Takashina and three others with knowledge in the area, who reportedly concluded that the possibility that the works were plagiarized could not be brushed away.

. . . "I have been familiar with Sughi for a long time, and I received influence from him thorough study and design with him. The works are in homage to Sughi, and are not stolen," Wada was quoted as saying.

Sughi, however, opposed Wada's stance.

"I thought Wada was a fan of my paintings. I never thought he was a painter. I'm shocked to see Wada's works. They are clearly plagiarized," he said.

After denying the allegations against him to the Mainichi and the Cultural Affairs Agency, Wada expressed written intentions to return the prize he received. However, this was not included in the review panel's debate . . . more

So, the new expression for "copying" is "paying homage"?

And a photocopier would now be a photohomager?

[Catoneinutica]

[quote="kurohinge1"]So, the new expression for "copying" is "paying homage"?

And a photocopier would now be a photohomager?

]



The Kewpie Mayonaisse folks claim their Kewpie logo has no relation with the original Kewpie design first registed in the US around 1910. Nope. None whatsoever. And Sazaby? That's not a katakana rendering of Sotheby. No way. Just ask Cecil McBee.

[Mulboyne]

This story has now been picked up by a number of international newswires. Here's a follow-up from the Italian news agency Ansa: [apropos nothing, every time I see the name "Sughi" in a headline together with "Japan" I find I often read it first as "Sushi"]

Japan apologises for Sughi plagiary

The Japanese government is apologising to Italian artist Alberto Sughi, after it emerged that one of its nationals has plagiarized a large body of his work..."It was constant, blatent plagiary," Sughi said Monday. "A letter of regret will probably be sent tomorrow by the Japanese ministry, which this morning withdrew the prize Wada had won for a painting that is identical to one of my works. "There are dozens and dozens of plagiarized paintings - hundreds, according to me.

"It's the first time in the world that anything like this has happened and it is also the first time Japan has revoked a government prize". Sughi said he has been inundated by messages from ordinary members of the Japanese public apologizing for Wada's behaviour. "They believe Wada has brought dishonour on the Japanese people," he said. Sughi, a prominent contemporary artist, said the first news of Wada plagiarizing his pieces dates back to 2004. Reports then reached the Japanese authorities following a Wada exhibition in Tokyo in October last year.

The Japanese Embassy in Rome subsequently showed Sughi photos of 11 Wada copies and the game was up. Wada, 66, denied plagiary, claiming he had simply been influenced by Sughi after encountering his work while living in Europe in the 1970s. But the resemblance to the Italian's output was too striking for this explanation to have credence. "They asked me if I wanted to press charges," Sughi said . "But I believe he has already had his punishment, even though he has not yet publicly admitted everything, and I don't want to involve any other institutions". Sughi said that Wada has privately admitted his guilt to him and asked to be forgiven.

All credit to the embassy staffers is Rome. Wada got away with it a long time but I wonder whether he really expected to be able to carry it off indefinitely.

[Greji]

Wada got away with it a long time but I wonder whether he really expected to be able to carry it off indefinitely.

Could he be a victim to his own "uniqueness"? I've met several, who even though quite educated, have been so indoctrinated with the unique Japanese closed society, isolated from the rest of the world by its unique language and unique country status, that the outside world cannot possibly have any knowledge of what happens within the borders of Japan.

[Mulboyne]

Could he be a victim to his own "uniqueness"? I've met several, who even though quite educated, have been so indoctrinated with the unique Japanese closed society, isolated from the rest of the world by its unique language and unique country status, that the outside world cannot possibly have any knowledge of what happens within the borders of Japan.

I suspect that is it. Wada knew Sughi's work but he didn't expect anyone else in Japan's art world would know it enough to spot the connection and certainly would have relied on Sughi not knowing what he had done.

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: Wada quit post after giving student phone number

The scandal that destroyed artist Yoshihiko Wada's reputation is not his first brush with unseemly conduct. Sources say he was encouraged to quit his post as arts professor at Nagoya University of Arts in Kita-Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, in 2002 because of alleged impropriety involving a female student...Asked by The Asahi Shimbun for comment, Wada maintained he quit so he could concentrate on creative work.

[Catoneinutica]

One salient fact in this sordid case is that the Cultural Affairs Ministry seems to have given Wada the award AFTER having been anonymously tipped off about Wada's, er, indebtedness to Sughi's oevre. Now why would they do that? Besides being complete parochial idiots, I can't imagine.

Signor Mulboyne is doubtless correct - Wada counted on no one in Japan knowing about Sughi.

Sughi has said that Wada would come into his shop and photograph his paintings over and over, from multiple angles. Now we know what Wada was really up to, and it wasn't maniac fandom.

In a way, I think Wada is a kind of iconic figure for Japan. Think of all the bogus representations of foreign art, design, and marketing you see around Japan, and imagine how many trips abroad by camera-slinging J-folks were behind them.

Case in point: My wife gets all sorts of takubin crap. A couple of days ago it was a box of cookies. The box had the name "Grammercy New York" on it, and very convincingly appeared to be an American import. Even had a NY address, but the stuff was obviously made in Japan. Yesterday she got some ham with bogus German writing on the package.

Mr. Donut, Kewpie Mayonnaise, Mama's Pasta, Captain Santa, ad nauseum...all proxies for imports. Wada was just doing his part.

[Blah Pete]

Japanese Gov. sends an apology letter but Wada still denies he copied the works.
Sugi says that he will not press charges.

"But I believe he has already had his punishment, even though he has not yet publicly admitted everything, and I don't want to involve any other institutions". Sughi said that Wada has privately admitted his guilt to him and asked to be forgiven.

I bet Wada will never admit guilt on TV. Anyway it looks like this scandal is already passed since foreign killer elevators seem the be the big story now.

[dimwit]

Case in point: My wife gets all sorts of takubin crap. A couple of days ago it was a box of cookies. The box had the name "Grammercy New York" on it, and very convincingly appeared to be an American import. Even had a NY address, but the stuff was obviously made in Japan. Yesterday she got some ham with bogus German writing on the package.

Mr. Donut, Kewpie Mayonnaise, Mama's Pasta, Captain Santa, ad nauseum...all proxies for imports. Wada was just doing his part.

CAPTAIN SANTA IS NOT A FOREIGN PRODUCT.

I think I'm going sob in my beer:-D

[Catoneinutica]

CAPTAIN SANTA IS NOT A FOREIGN PRODUCT.

I think I'm going sob in my beer:-D

Don't ruin your beer! I was just sayin'...Captain Santa is one of the legions of ersatz foreign products in Japan. The makers want the cachet of a Western import (much like Engrish is used for decorative purposes), but it's Japanese through and through.

-catone
-wonders which Jonathan "Jonathan's" is named after
-has yet to see a single Japanese car with a Japanese name
-no, Suzuki Samurai doesn't count

[Mulboyne]

-wonders which Jonathan "Jonathan's" is named after

There's a fair chance that it was a nod to "Kamome no Jonasan". The translation of Jonathan Livingstone Seagull was a huge hit in Japan at a time when translations were not especially popular. Skylark, who operate the brand, registered it in 1979 which is a few years after the event but you'll notice that their own name has an avian quality too.

[Gilligan]

Mr. Donut, Kewpie Mayonnaise, Mama's Pasta, Captain Santa, ad nauseum...all proxies for imports. Wada was just doing his part.

Sorry about quibbling Catoneinutica, especially since I get your point and agree with you, but Mr. Donut really was an American donut company started in Boston (by the brother-in-law of the man who started Dunkin' Donuts). They had the same logo that the Mr. Donut has here in Japan. You can get an overviewat wikipedia.

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: What lies behind Japan's art plagiarism scandal

...The screening which selected Wada was done on Jan. 19 by the jury panel, comprising seven jurors--four from the art field and three from other fields. The four were Setagaya Art Museum director Tadayasu Sakai; Natsuko Kusanagi, director of the Hiratsuka Museum of Art in Kanagawa Prefecture; Akira Tatehata, director of the National Museum of Art, Osaka, and art critic Teizo Taki. The remaining three were Hiroyuki Suzuki, an architecture history researcher at Tokyo University, graphic designer Shigeo Fukuda and movie director Kiju Yoshida...Wada's biggest supporter is said to have been Taki. Another juror told The Yomiuri Shimbun, "Trustworthy museums held Wada's exhibitions, and the curators reported their studies on his works."

...According to the Cultural Affairs Agency's investigation, Wada started drawing pictures based on Sughi's compositions around 1980 after he returned to Japan in 1977 following a period of study in Europe. He continued producing pictures in that manner until recently, the agency says. In some cases, Wada featured versions of Sughi's works within his own compositions as pictures-within-pictures. In other cases, he seems to have combined two or more of Sughi's works to produce his own compositions. What is clear is that there are many works by Wada which are almost indistinguishable from Sughi's in terms of composition. However, Sughi was not widely known in Japan, and Wada did not make it clear that he was borrowing, or referring to, the Italian artist's compositions.

Rikiei Funaki, director of the Tsukuba Museum of Art, Ibaraki, where one of Wada's exhibitions was held in May last year, told The Yomiuri Shimbun, "When we edited the catalogue for the exhibition, no one knew of the relationship [between Sughi and Wada], or had even heard of Sughi." Shortly before the exhibition started, the agency received from a third party information that Wada's paintings were similar to those by Sughi. But Wada reportedly explained that his paintings had been created as an "homage" to the artist, whom he admired. Based on his claims, the Tsukuba museum added the "homage" explanation to a panel at the exhibition venue.

...Whatever the truth, Wada's "homage" explanation doesn't stand up, critics say. In a strongly worded condemnation of Wada, art critic Shinichi Segi said: "It can't be [presented as] an homage unless widely known pictures or subjects are featured. [What Wada has done] is almost a criminal act as he repeatedly made copies [of other artist's works]." On Monday this week, the selection jury met again to discuss what to do about Wada. Only three out of the seven jury members attended: Kusanagi, Sakai and Tatehata. Those who did not attend handed in letters promising to abide by whatever decision the jury took on the matter in their absence. Taki, who recommended Wada at the time of the selection process, explained his absence by saying, "There's no point going through the same arguments again." In a separate opinion letter, however, he conceded that Wada's argument was inconsistent.

...Kizawa said, "In reality, it's impossible to know about all artists all over the world when working on the selection process." Indeed, the Art Encouragement Prize covers Japanese traditional painting, Western-style art, contemporary art, photography and architecture. It's thus impossible for each member of the jury to have full knowledge of all the fields, or to expect them to make in-depth judgment in fields that are not their specialty...However, it's also true that the turn of events has damaged the authority of art critics who praised Wada, the jury who selected him, and above them, the cultural agency and the award itself...Kizawa said, "We need to think over what should have been done during the information-gathering process and what can be done to ensure that, in the future, we obtain sufficient information before selecting the winner"...Even so, the agency will likely have a tough time restoring the trust of art fans and society in general...more...

[Greji]

Yomiuri: What lies behind Japan's art plagiarism scandal

".......Kizawa said, "In reality, it's impossible to know about all artists all over the world when working on the selection process."

Or probably more likely, have knowledge of any artist outside the geographic borders of Japan beyond the essential grand masters and enough information to appear international, Avante Guarde to their peers and West Bank. This will lead to the selected TV talk shows, which is the only goal of their branch of the profession. Art holds little interest to these clowns. Sadly, it is only an avenue they choose to use for their own personal gain and they provide absolutely nothing to the descipline, or field.

[Charles]

Or probably more likely, have knowledge of any artist outside the geographic borders of Japan beyond the essential grand masters and enough information to appear international, Avante Guarde to their peers and West Bank.

I once took an art history seminar about the process by which Japanese artists first learned about modern European art during the Meiji era, the lecturer was a nihonjin scholar traveling on a Monbusho grant to deliver his research out to the world. One of the more fascinating anecdotes was how the Japanese artists first studied Impressionism from printed books and magazines. Several schools of artists battled over their divergent theories of Impressionism. Then a few of the more devoted artists traveled to Paris to study the works firsthand. And they were crestfallen, some of them actually hated the works when they saw them first hand, they thought the paintings were garish. You see, their books and magazines printed only black and white photos, and when they saw the actual color works, the paintings did not match up with their theories.

[Greji]

when they saw the actual color works, the paintings did not match up with their theories.

Good point Chas. I sometimes think that in business, they also only see in black and white, until it comes time to make a decision, Then they do demonstrate some abstract art ability.