University of the Philippines' "Uplift" scuplture have reached headlines last year, 2017 due to some plagiarism allegations. Even before the UP Female Oblation or "Uplift" could be formally installed, there has been many reactions from people who took to social media about its resemblance to The Virgins of Apeldoorn which was made by the Dutch artist Elisabet Stienstra.
With such similarity, this could tamper Cacnio’s artistic integrity with alleged plagiarism. Infringement of copyright or plagiarism is defined as using someone else's ideas or idea without giving them such credit.
THE VIRGINS OF APELDOORN
The husband of Elisabet Stienstra was quick to question Mr. Cacnio's work and addressed it through Facebook.
“Hello. I am Elisabet Stienstra's husband. Elisabet doesn't do Facebook herself. She [Elisabet Stienstra] would like it to be known however that she sees Mr. Cacnio’s sculpture as plagiarism. The principle of her work (made in 2001) is to use sculptural conventions to suggest weightlessness. Mr. Cacnio’s sculpture does not only imitate her idea in general terms, but also in specific terms: the long hanging hair, the falling-back head, the outstretched arms, the outstretched body. The similarities are too evident to be coincidental. Plagiarism is still plagiarism even if a few details have been altered”.
Image Source
“The Virgins of Apeldoorn” was installed last 2001 at the Netherlands by Elisabet Stienstra. It is a series of three girl statues that appears to be floating and is made up of bronze.
UP FEMALE OBLATION - UPLIFT
Ferdinand Cacnio who is an engineering/psychology student at the University of the Philippines denies it's a copy. In his defense, he's never been to The Netherlands neither had he heard that the work of Elisabet's The Virgins of Apeldoorn exists. He claims that his work - "UPLIFT" is entirely original.
So, what do think? Was UP's "Uplift" a plagiarism of Elisabet Stienstra's "The Virgins of Apeldoorn"? Share me your thoughts in the comment section below _
References:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/518899188300435385/
http://www.interaksyon.com/watch-uplift-the-sculpture-at-up-that-more-than-makes-heads-turn/
https://www.topnewsphil.com/husband-of-the-artist-made-the-virgins-of-apeldoorn-says-that-the-artist-behind-the-up-female-oblation-plagiarized-their-sculpture/
https://www.thevolatilian.com/verdict-in-suspension/
