Appropriation Hank Willis Thomas

(CBS News / YouTube screenshot)

US artist sparks appropriation row after “stealing” famous South African images

Hank Willis Thomas is accused of plagiarism and appropriation after he reworked some of the most iconic images in SA’s history.

Appropriation Hank Willis Thomas

(CBS News / YouTube screenshot)

US artist Hank Willis Thomas may have thought his work was paying homage to some of South Africa’s greatest photographers. Instead, he’s royally pissed them off and found himself at the centre of an appropriation controversy.

Thomas has edited and reworked some of the most iconic pictures ever taken in this country, depicting life under the apartheid government. As CBS News report, one piece sold for $36 000, but he’s been lambasted for essentially “stealing” the work of the original creators after he failed to ask for their permission.

Images “stolen” by Hank Willis Thomas

Peter Magubane saw one of his authentic snaps – a young girl standing fearlessly in the face of police officers – get the Hank Willis Thomas treatment. The American simply put a white fade over the background and highlighted the girl in question.

A photograph by Graeme Williams was used by artist Hank Willis Thomas. (CBS NEWS)

Graeme Williams also saw one of his images suffer the exact same fate, and this “reimagined” photo was the one that made the mega-bucks. You can see why both Magubane and Williams are up in arms: If this is all it takes to make money from art, we’re all in the wrong job.

(CBS NEWS)

Both South African photographers are looking into the possibility of legal action and one U.S. firm has offered to represent them for free. However, Thomas does not feel he’s done anything wrong:

“It’s a dangerous moment when we start telling people what they can and cannot talk about when it comes to art. I think it’s scary for someone to say this. Censorship was a critical tool for apartheid and other oppressive regimes. The legal debate is one thing. I’m interested more in history and the landscape of photography.”

Yeah, we’re not sure how well lecturing South Africans on the legacy of apartheid is going to go down. These sentiments were echoed by CBS reporter Debora Patta, who expressed concerns about the “painful memories of historical theft” that colonialism inflicted on Mzansi.

Is it cultural appropriation?

There’s even a school of thought that suggests this artist is committing appropriation, by taking key moments of the struggle and adapting them to his own tastes. Fikile Magubane, daughter of Peter, has slammed his work as “shameful and disrespectful”.

Thomas insists he only cares about the “morality” in this debate. He preaches anti-censorship values, yet none of his pieces hold a great deal of original integrity. If he wants to put his point across, he’ll have to do it once he’s climbed down off that high horse.

You can watch the full feature from CBS right here.