As we reported two weeks ago, the prestigious Chinese artist and scholar Ye Yongqing has plagiarised Belgian artist Christian Silvain's artworks for more than 30 years and earned millions from it. 

Ye Yongqing accused of plagiarising a Belgium artist's work for 30 years

Just a few days ago, Ye went to Belgium alone with his lawyer, trying to negotiate with Silvain. Before that, the Taiwanese gallery Longmen Art Project, who has represneted Ye for more than a decade has already sent an email to Silvain ask for megotiation. Ye's daugher also has tried to contact the the artist through Facebook. However, neither of them have got back from Silvain. Yesterday, Mr Silvain told us about his plan: We cannot yet make a statement about this in connection with planned actions. The foundation has not yet taken a decision on this." 

Nevertheless, the artist and his foundation has already set a 71-page document of the evidence of the plagiarism and trying to use it to arouse public attention about the affair. From the document, we can easily recognise that the copied works look exactly like the original ones. Only some details were modified by Ye. However, Ye himself has never admitted that. 

▲Part of the71-page document of the evidence of the plagiarism (Above: Christian Silvain's work, Below: Ye Yong Qing's work)

During an interview with Ye Yongqing about his solo exhibition at Yuz Museum Jakarta in 2011, Wu Hong, the art history professor of the University of Chicago asked why Ye's style has suddenly changed. He asked: "You've been aboard a lot since 1993. I feel your new series 'scrawl' artworks are very Westernised. It is much like Western contemporary art, which is more natural and free. Not many Chinese artists can get that." The artworks that Professor Wu referred to are the works Ye plagiarised.

Nevertheless, from Ye's answer, we can see that he denied the fact that he actually copied work from another artist and claimed his inspiration is mostly from his travel diary. He said in his answers: "From ’93, I've been travel around the world a lot and scrawled down some of my thoughts and feelings as a casual diary. They were painted on canvas, doors, walls...These blocks were the base of my artworks. It is kind like Mondrian's concept. I then just paint randomly on it. And suddenly, the painting was done."

Ironically, these artworks were not born from causal strokes, but turned out to be a very delicate copy. After the affair was widely exposed by many Chinese media outlets including Artron and The Paper, it immediately aroused the anger of the Chinese art community and the general public.

A few days ago, Li Xianting, a famous Chinese contemporary art critic and curator and a friend of Ye Yongqing, posted an apology online. He is so far the first and the only person related to Ye that has apologised in public. In his apology letter, he criticized Ye's behaviour and his previous support for Ye's exhibitions, along with an appeal to Ye for a public apology towards the Belgian artist. He said: "Plagiarism is a matter of moral issue instead of art ability. Ye is not an artist without any talent. I do not understand why he did that."

Moreover, Liu Yi Qian, famous Chinese art collector and owner of Long Museum, has also posted several comments on his private WeChat account to ask Ye Yongqing to apologise. He also showed an interest in helping Silvain to hold an exhibition in his museum in Shanghai.

Mr Silvain told us his feelings about the reaction in China: "We had no expectations at the start and were pleasantly surprised by the reactions of the people in China. Their support for touches me and the Christian Silvain foundation deeply. About exhibiting in Shanghai, I myself and the foundation would greatly appreciate such a proposal. This would be a great opportunity to show my oeuvre to the people. Nevertheless, the foundation wants to consult first as well."

For more information and support for Christian Silvain, please go to his Facebook page.