Faked Picasso ruse another publicity coup for Mona and Kirsha Kaechele, but some are unimpressed
By Eliza KloserIn short:
The news supposed Picasso artworks at Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art were fakes painted by a local artist has drawn a mixed response, with some describing it a damaging to the gallery's credibility — while others have lauded it as a publicity masterstroke.
An arts lawyer has speculated it is possible some legal consequences may arise from visitors to the museum being "under the belief they were seeing authentic Picassos".
What's next?
In a statement, the Paris-based Picasso Administration, which manages his estate and holds the copyright to his works, says they aren't considering any further action.
In the wake of an artist admitting she produced fake Picasso artworks to hang in a Tasmanian museum, the stunt has been welcomed as provoking discussion, damaging to the gallery's credibility and pushing the boundaries of the law.
On Wednesday, Kirsha Kaechele — the artist behind the Ladies Lounge at Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) — posted in a blog the Picasso artworks that had been hanging in the lounge for three years were fakes — painted by herself with some help from her "manicurist's niece".
She also admitted to displaying other artefacts that were "not genuine", including New Guinean spears that were brand new but "represented as antiques collected by my grandfather on Pacific expeditions with Michael Rockefeller — you know, when he was 'eaten by cannibals' ".
Kaechele said she had "waited patiently … three years and seven months to be exact" to be caught out and came clean due to enquiries from a journalist and the Picasso Administration in France.
Last month, Kaechele announced that the 'Picassos' were being moved to a female toilet, in response to a successful discrimination complaint by a man which triggered the closure of the Ladies' Lounge.
Art stunt draws mixed response
Robyn Sloggett, Cripps Foundation professor in Cultural Materials Conservation, said this could be the next phase in the story of the political Ladies Lounge.
"People always make fake art for a reason," Ms Sloggett said.
"A lot of women artists are appropriated, so we've got a woman artist appropriating a man so is there a political statement here?"
Pablo Picasso, the late Spanish artist whose work was copied, while celebrated as being a giant of modern art is now also considered to have been abusive to women over a long period.
Ms Sloggett thinks Kaechele appropriating the work of Picasso, a male artist for use in the Ladies Lounge — an "exclusive" space designed to "drive men crazy" — is trying to provoke discussion.
"Celebrating him, who has a shocking reputation with women, in a women's lounge … there is a whole other narrative sitting there," she said.
Kaechele's blog post she said "women have been pulling him (Picasso) apart lately, questioning his supremacy".
"I liked that a misogynist would dominate the walls of the Ladies Lounge. Alongside a work by Sidney Nolan, another misogynist, depicting a rape scene."
She said she filled the lounge with objects "with dubious stories centred around a fictional women, a version of myself".
"And each of those stories intended to raise questions around gender, freedom, power structures, authenticity, and value."
Ruse described as 'brilliant', 'confusing', 'typical Kirsha'
Tasmanian art critic Andrew Harper told ABC Radio Hobart he is enjoying the ongoing antics.
"I think it's more in the line of fakery and prankery, she's come clean, the statement is pretty good, it's typically Kirsha… this is the sort of thing that she does," Mr Harper said.
Kaechele is the wife of Mona founder David Walsh, whose courting of controversy has resulted in the gallery making news.
When Mona faced the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal earlier this year, Kaechele and her female entourage behaved in such a way as to be described by the tribunal deputy president as being "inappropriate, discourteous and disrespectful, and at worst contumelious and contemptuous".
Northern Tasmanian resident Navid Bahadori said he loved the Picasso ruse.
"I think it was done in the spirit of art," Mr Bahadori said.
"It doesn't make me think anything different, it's an amazing institution, it's an amazing place, regardless of whether they were fake or not and it was part of the whole idea of it."
Tourist on holiday in Tasmania Leonnie Woosley said she was "horrified" about the fake paintings.
"They are going to lose all credibility … I won't go back to Mona," she said.
"I think they've got a level of honesty to pursue and they're not doing it."
Deborah Field and her daughter Willow are visiting Tasmania from interstate and both said they were confused as to the display of faked art.
"It's a little bit confusing as to why you would appropriate the authenticity of it," Ms Field said.
Others were less fazed.
"Just makes me love Mona more," Karin Tonks said.
"Oh, this is brilliant!" Steve Smith said.
"Classic take on the absurdity of fame vs talent. Well done!" Carolle Norman said.
But is it art fraud?
Melbourne arts lawyer Alana Kushnir said Kaechele's act "could potentially be misleading or deceptive conduct".
"The argument being that visitors to the museum were under the belief they were seeing authentic Picassos."
Ms Kushnir said the act could also come under copyright infringement laws — but the laws are "not so straightforward", and "it would be challenging to bring those sorts of claims."
"In theory, it's possible," she said.
Ms Kushnir said that a defence to copyright infringement is the exception of "parody and satire" which the whole artwork could be interpreted as.
"That's the interesting part of what Kirsha is doing, she's kind of playing with the boundaries of the law, and forcing us to really think about how, and if they can be applied in practice.
"She's sort of taking the piss out of (the laws) really."
The Paris-based Picasso Administration, which manages his estate, holds the copyright and reproductive rights to his works, and has previously taken legal action around the world to fight against fakes.
The organisation has told Radio National Breakfast it regrets the incident at MONA, but won't be taking any further action.
Laden..."We also specify that we in no way hold this against the Museum itself, nor the artist. The urgency of creation sometimes makes us forget that there are principles of law protecting the interests of authors, which apply to everyone."