Appropriation - Gordon Bennett and Vincent Van Gogh

Appropriation is used so that work by artists can be used or borrowed by others. The work from this artist however must be confirmed if it is under the copyright act of 1968 later amended in 2005. This states that any work by the artist has a 70 year copyright after their death. If the work is under this act they need to seek and be granted permission by the holder of copyright. However artists that died before this act was released are legally out of copyright.

Artists appropriate other artist's work/style/technique so they can give it new meaning reinterpret with their own thoughts and ideas. They could also appropriate to pay homage to the artist or create a parody of the artists work.

An example of an appropriating artist is Gordon Bennett. Gordon Bennett is an Australian Aboriginal Artist. Who appropriates work from artists such as Margaret Preston, Vincent van Gogh, Jackson Pollock, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Bennett's art displays his personal struggle for identity as an Australian of Aboriginal and Anglo-Celtic descent. In his piece 'Outsider' he appropriates Van Gogh's Starry Night and Bedroom in Arles and the technique/style in which he paints. He has used Van Gogh's work and style to create this piece, which represents Bennett. It displays an Aboriginal man whose head has been severed. There are two Anglo-Celtic heads laying on the bed and they figure is leaning to pick one up. It displays his upbringing in the stolen generation and how he comes from two backgrounds.