Art Appropriation

Left: Vincent Van Gogh, Self-portrait, 1889 Right: Robert Gulaczyk, Loving Vincent film, 2017

Appropriation, according to Rowe (2011) is “the act of borrowing or reusing existing elements
within a new work.” The intention of the appropriation artists is for viewers to identify the images they
imitate or copy. Since the new artists are putting the work in a new context, they wish for the viewers to
bring all their original associations with the image. This new context is called “recontextualization” which
is from the deliberate borrowing of a prior work.

From the previous pages of this book, you may see Duchamp’s version of Mona Lisa where he
placed a “goatie” or mustache on the Renaissance woman. You can also identify Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup
Can series where he copied the exact labels of the actual brand but multiplied them to occupy the entire
plane. Both Duchamp and Warhol can be considered appropriation artists and they want the viewers to
associate the images with the original work. Varied interpretations might come in. According to art
historian Beth Gersh-Nesic (2018), Warhol is like an advertiser who wants the consumers to have that
“Mmm Mmm Good” feeling upon seeing the lined cans. In addition, viewers can form new associations
of the image such as “consumerism, commercialism, big business, fast food, middle-class values, and food
representing love”.

Look at contemporary examples of this type of work. What is borrowed from the original? What can be
the motivation of the appropriation artists? What is the effect of their works?
Example 1

Left: Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles Right: Robert Colesscott, Les Demoiselles
d’Avignon, 1907 d’Alabama, 1985

Example 2

Left: Caravaggio, Bacchus, 1595 Right: Kathleen Gilje, Bacchus Restored, 1992
Example 3

Left: Jim Krantz Right: Richard Prince

Prince did a rephotography of Marlboro ads. In 2005, his Untitled (Cowboy) sold for $1.2 million at
Christie’s auction.

Read and view the video from 100photos.time.com/photos/richard-prince-cowboy. Do you consider the
action of Prince justifiable? Why did he do it? If you were the “original” photographer of the ad, how
would you react? Do you consider the rephotography of Prince art?
Below are local examples of Appropriation. What innovations have been done? What “newness” is offered
by the appropriation artist?

Girl in Red with a Parasol (1909) Lady in Red with an Umbrella (2017)
By Max Pechstein Carthelyn Adajar
Oil on Canvas, 98 x 98 cm Photography
Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt Photo taken by Sai Adajar

The Discus Thrower The Dish Washer (2017)

450 BCE Karljan Paul L. Gayloa
Myron of Greece
Original: Bronze, Replica: Marble, 1.7m
 Girl in Grey (1939) Girl with Christian Grey (2017)
Louis le Brocquy Kizzy Jane Vergara
Oil in Canvas, 93cm x 93cm Heathman Hotel
Ferens Art Gallery

Activity:

Try your own Appropriation Art.

• Choose any painting or sculpture (made by a local or foreign artist).

• Imitate the chosen art and take a photograph.
• You must appear in the photo and not someone else.
• Recreate the setting/background and don’t merely do a Photoshop of your picture.
• If you wish to do some innovations of the original artwork, make sure your appropriation is
highly creative.
• Write the basic documentary information of both works like title, artist, year, medium.
• Write a one-paragraph essay explaining your motivation for doing the appropriation.

References

Gersh-Nesic, B. (2018). What is appropriation art? Retrieved from

https://www.thoughtco.com/appropriation-appropriation-art-183190

Rowe, H. (2011). Appropriation in contemporary art. Inquiries Journal, 3(6), 1. Retrieved from
www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1661/appropriation-in-contemporary-art
Rubric
Name ____________________________________________

CRITERIA EXCELLENT (10) VERY GOOD (8) FAIR (6) NEEDS

IMPROVEMENT (2)

PREPARATION Preparation is Some preparation Preparation is not No evidence of

obvious. There is has taken place. very much evident. preparation has taken
great evidence that There is evidence Little effort is place.
student has put a that student has put manifested into
lot of effort into the effort into the the making of the
project. project. project.
APPROPRIATION Photo closely Photo resembles the There is some Photo is way too far
resembles the original resemblance from the original
original painting/sculpture or between the photo painting/sculpture or
painting/sculpture innovation done is and the original innovation done does
or innovation done creative. painting/sculpture not show creativity.
is highly creative, or there is some
witty and innovation done
interesting. but lacks creativity.
MECHANICS All the basic One or two basic More than two Does not provide the
documentary documentary basic documentary basic documentary
information in the information details in information details information in any of
two photos are the two photos are in the two photos the two photos.
provided missing. are provided.
completely.