Copy, Right?

Have you heard of Yayoi Kusama? She is a Japanese artist who pioneered much of what we appreciate today. Some of her well-known installations include the Infinity Mirror Room (1965), Narcissus Garden (1966), and her signature Dots Obsession.

My fascination began when I came across the film Kusama: Infinity. It documents her life and artwork from her conservative upbringing in Japan through her voyage to the US. The film reveals how Kusama’s work grew in appreciation as her mental health was on the decline.

I strongly wanted this post to convey my appreciation of her tenacity and originality. Despite the prevalence of racism and sexism in the arts, Kusama was a pioneer who continued to create.

What stopped me?

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT!

As a publisher, I know better than to reuse photos, quotes, and ideas without permission or proper citations. Yet, I see people post and repost content that would appear “original” when it was actually copied.

In the early days, Kusama’s original works were copied without regard. When Kusama launched her first exhibit Aggregation: One Thousand Boats Show in December 1964, Andy Warhol was in attendance. Almost two years later, his exhibit Cow Wallpaper (April 1966) mimicked Kusama’s debut work. However, he credited another artist for inspiring this installation.

We are in a time when creative works are more protected. As you create, my hope is that you default to:

• Using original photos in your content.

• Seeking permission to reuse creative ideas.

• Giving credit to where credit is due.

Happy creating!