Culture Obscura

Culture Obscura
Rhizome

Copyright law has become one of the most debated issues in the creative industries, largely as a result of networked technologies. Those parties invested in traditionally regulated forms of exchange are trying to fence off cultural products, doing everything possible to immunize themselves from the outbreak of peer-to-peer sharing and creative sampling. But many cultural producers, including artists, are forming their own responses to these delineations of creativity, seeking to open up, rather than close off, access to their work. 'Copy Art,' an ongoing, web-based collection of art works that are open to sharing, changing and redistributing, is one among many such initiatives. The show is a curatorial project of Irini Papadimitriou developed in collaboration with Metamute (the web presence of UK-based Mute Magazine), and will apply the Creative Commons non-commercial share alike license to featured artworks. 'Copy Art' launched this June at London's IBID Projects with! works by Miltos Manetas, Thompson & Craighead, Critical Art Ensemble and more. Hardly a passive exhibition meant for spectators, visitors are asked to upload their own files - ideally manipulations of the works in the show. - Ryan Griffis

Copy Art