Post by Silky on Feb 26, 2009 20:35:48 GMT
www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/4155892.LEYTONSTONE__Maverick_artists_help_pay_Cartrain_s_Hirst_debt/
LEYTONSTONE: Maverick artists help pay Cartrain's Hirst debt
11:20am Thursday 26th February 2009
A GROUP of artists have raised money for a Leytonstone teenager who was threatened with legal action by Damien Hirst – by selling their own works which parody Hirst’s art.
The Brit Art pioneer threatened to sue 17-year-old graffiti artist Cartrain over an unauthorised use of his iconic work, For the Love of God.
Cartrain, who styles himself on Banksy, incorporated pictures of Mr Hirst’s famous diamond-encrusted skull sculpture, into a series of his collages. He later settled out of court and paid Mr Hirst £200.
Now a group of artists called Red Rag To A Bull, who campaign against heavy-handed copyright control, have created their own art works based on Mr Hirst’s sculpture, and have sold copies of them online.
The sales of the works have raised £200, which they have handed back in “compensation” to Cartrain.
James Cauty, a former member of legendary 1980s pop duo The KLF and also known for later burning £1m with the K Foundation, was at the forefront of the artists’ exercise.
He said: “I just think lawyers should not be involved in the creative process.
“What Cartrain was doing is something that all artists have done.
“He fancied using a bit of Damien Hirst’s work but added to it himself. If it was a case of simply bootlegging Mr Hirst’s work then it would be different.”
Cartrain, who has never revealed his true identity, said: “James Cauty inspired me to become an artist along with Banksy – I am amazed he would want to help me out."
Red Rag To A Bull says the creation and sales of the works were not intended as a crusade against Mr Hurst, but were intended as a “creative exercise” to mock the “overbearing, thoughtless approach to copyright control.”
Other members of Red Rag To A Bull include punk album designer Jamie Reid and artists Billy Childish and John LeKay.
LEYTONSTONE: Maverick artists help pay Cartrain's Hirst debt
11:20am Thursday 26th February 2009
A GROUP of artists have raised money for a Leytonstone teenager who was threatened with legal action by Damien Hirst – by selling their own works which parody Hirst’s art.
The Brit Art pioneer threatened to sue 17-year-old graffiti artist Cartrain over an unauthorised use of his iconic work, For the Love of God.
Cartrain, who styles himself on Banksy, incorporated pictures of Mr Hirst’s famous diamond-encrusted skull sculpture, into a series of his collages. He later settled out of court and paid Mr Hirst £200.
Now a group of artists called Red Rag To A Bull, who campaign against heavy-handed copyright control, have created their own art works based on Mr Hirst’s sculpture, and have sold copies of them online.
The sales of the works have raised £200, which they have handed back in “compensation” to Cartrain.
James Cauty, a former member of legendary 1980s pop duo The KLF and also known for later burning £1m with the K Foundation, was at the forefront of the artists’ exercise.
He said: “I just think lawyers should not be involved in the creative process.
“What Cartrain was doing is something that all artists have done.
“He fancied using a bit of Damien Hirst’s work but added to it himself. If it was a case of simply bootlegging Mr Hirst’s work then it would be different.”
Cartrain, who has never revealed his true identity, said: “James Cauty inspired me to become an artist along with Banksy – I am amazed he would want to help me out."
Red Rag To A Bull says the creation and sales of the works were not intended as a crusade against Mr Hurst, but were intended as a “creative exercise” to mock the “overbearing, thoughtless approach to copyright control.”
Other members of Red Rag To A Bull include punk album designer Jamie Reid and artists Billy Childish and John LeKay.