To discover a shameless photographic plagiarism in Paris by the email of a reader is an unusual circumstance.
Still, this is what happened yesterday in the middle of the AIPAD, the most important New York photographic fair in the United States.
The title of the mail first: Ren Hang, a major plagiarism.
And scrolling images followed.
I reached out to the author of the email.
In the evening, he sent me this text.
Jean-Jacques Naudet.
The famous MEP in Paris is currently showing a retrospective of the Chinese photographer Ren Hang. There were many local visitors queuing for the show last weekend when I went to see it with my friends.
This exhibition occupies the second floor of the museum. The preface of the exhibition stated that Ren Hang had been influenced by Terry Richardsonand Araki, but did not mention anything about Ryan McGinley, Guy Bourdin, Robert Farberor Robert Mapplethorpe…
While these names were popping up in my mind screaming out the similarities between what I had seen and what I was facing at the show.
A friend of mine had the same confusion after seeing Ren Hang’s show, we then both Googled some images and sorted out the comparisons I am sending you.
Lucien Y.
REN HANG
LOVE, REN HANG
03.06.19 – 05.2619
LA MAISON EUROPÉENNE DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE
5/7 Rue de Fourcy – 75004 Paris
