Japanese ceramics artist Satoshi Kino plans to sue Taiwanese sculptor Tsai Wen-hsyang (蔡文祥) for allegedly plagiarizing one of his works, members of Kino’s family said on Monday.
Earlier this year, Kaohsiung residents pointed out the similarity between a stainless steel sculpture in front of the Kaohsiung branch of the Ministry of Justice’s Administrative Enforcement Agency and a ceramic sculpture called Oroshi-Typhoon, created by Kino.
The accusations prompted the branch in October to convene a panel of nine art experts to analyze the Taiwanese sculpture, called Fair Justice and Harmony, for evidence of plagiarism.
Photo provided by Satoshi Kino via CNA
Three of the experts ruled that the sculpture was the result of plagiarism, while the other six experts acknowledged that the two pieces closely resembled each other, prompting the branch to apply to the Kaohsiung Bureau of Cultural Affairs to have the sculpture removed.
It is also seeking compensation from Tsai’s design firm.
Kino’s family said that after their application was approved on Tuesday last week, the bureau notified Tsai to oversee the removal of the piece on Saturday.
However, Kino’s family said that Tsai refused to apologize or provide compensation, insisting that his work is original and should not be destroyed.
Unlike Tsai, the branch had issued an official explanation to Kino after the experts’ findings and apologized to him, members of the Japanese artist’s family said.
Kino’s family said that he created Oroshi-Typhoon in 2015 and it was awarded a ceramics honor in Taiwan in 2016.
It was displayed from July 15, 2016, to Jan. 2, 2017, at the New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum, where it has since been archived.
Ray Chu (褚瑞基), an associate professor at Ming Chuan University’s Department of Architecture, said the case is the first in Taiwan where a local work was removed because of alleged plagiarism.
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