Italian
Diversi artisti indigeni sono stati presi di mira da truffatori, che rubano il loro stile e spacciano design falsi come prodotti genuini.
Ma quante sono le opere "tarocche” che stanno inondando il mercato?
Fare una ricerca sul proprio nome su internet può portare a risultati interessanti, ma quello che l'artista indigena Bibi Barba ha trovato è stato per lei sconvolgente.
Barba ha infatti scoperto che una delle sue idee grafiche è stata rubata e usata per decorare un hotel in Polonia.
"My heart sank. I felt so sick to my stomach. I couldn't believe that something that I painted, so beautiful to me, was used in such a commercial way and disrespectful to culture."
L'artista di Sydney ha dichiarato che il ladro evidentemente riteneva di potersi appropriare del design senza alcuna conseguenza.
"She obviously thought that I was somewhere in the Outback under a gum tree, no access to modern technology, and, well, sorry, I don't live far from the prime minister of Australia, so I am going to find out. So, obviously, she thought that I would never find out about it and, even if I did, I should (feel) privileged."
L'Arts Law Centre of Australia ritiene che circa l'80% delle opere d’arte indigene vendute in negozi in tutta Australia sia falso.
L'Indigenous Art Code, il codice dell'arte indigena, è stato creato per garantire un commercio etico e giusto degli artifatti e si sta battendo per cambiare questa situazione.
La direttrice di Indigenous Art Code Gabrielle Sullivan è convinta che l'Australia debba proteggere in modo più deciso artisti indigeni come Bibi Barba.
"I feel like there's momentum around it now, and, with the parliamentary inquiry and the recent court action announced by the ACCC, but, you know, it needs to go beyond things like the Commonwealth Games. I know there's a lot of interest because of that, but, you know what, that's two weeks in the year, and, if it's still continuing after Australia hosting the Olympic Games, I don't think that just attention around the Commonwealth Games will address this. It's bigger than that, so we need to keep the mmomentum up."
L'Attorney general del Queensland Yvette D'Ath ha a sua volta invitato gli acquirenti d'arte indigena ad assicurarsi di comprare un oggetto originale.
"Look for those authentic products. We want to support this industry in Queensland. We want our Indigenous artists to thrive. This is an important industry and we want artists to get the recognition they deserve."
Il mercato multi-milionario di arte falsa è oggetto di un'inchiesta parlamentare federale.
English
Thieves are targeting Indigenous artists, stealing their designs and passing off fake designs as the genuine product.
How many fakes are flooding the market?
Doing an internet search of your own name can bring up some interesting results, but what Indigenous artist Bibi Barba found when she did it was devastating.
Ms Barba discovered one of her designs had been stolen and used to decorate a hotel in Poland.
"My heart sank. I felt so sick to my stomach. I couldn't believe that something that I painted, so beautiful to me, was used in such a commercial way and disrespectful to culture."
The Sydney artist says the thief clearly believed she could steal the design without consequences.
"She obviously thought that I was somewhere in the Outback under a gum tree, no access to modern technology, and, well, sorry, I don't live far from the prime minister of Australia, so I am going to find out. So, obviously, she thought that I would never find out about it and, even if I did, I should (feel) privileged."
The Arts Law Centre of Australia says about 80 per cent of Indigenous arts and crafts sold in stores across the country are estimated to be inauthentic.
The Indigenous Art Code, set up to ensure fair and ethical trading, is fighting to change that.
Indigenous Art Code chief executive Gabrielle Sullivan says Australia needs to be proactive to protect Indigenous artists like Bibi Barba.
"I feel like there's momentum around it now, and, with the parliamentary inquiry and the recent court action announced by the ACCC, but, you know, it needs to go beyond things like the Commonwealth Games. I know there's a lot of interest because of that, but, you know what, that's two weeks in the year, and, if it's still continuing after Australia hosting the Olympic Games, I don't think that just attention around the Commonwealth Games will address this. It's bigger than that, so we need to keep the mmomentum up."
Queensland Attorney general Yvette D'Ath says buyers of Indigenous art need to take steps to ensure they're buying the real thing.
"Look for those authentic products. We want to support this industry in Queensland. We want our Indigenous artists to thrive. This is an important industry and we want artists to get the recognition they deserve."
A federal parliamentary inquiry is investigating the multimillion-dollar fake art trade.
Report by Rangi Hirini and Greg Dyett
