Artist Accuses Manifesta 16 of Plagiarism Over Installation in Essen

An artist has called for the removal of an installation from Manifesta 16 in Essen, Germany, alleging that it plagiarizes her earlier work. On June 21, the biennial opened, featuring the piece titled Elevation by Turkish sculptor Nasan Tur, which uses reclaimed church pews and invites public participation.

Allegations of Plagiarism

Bochum-based artist Dorothee Bielfeld claims that the central visual motif of Elevation resembles her 2010 installation Aufrichten, which was part of the Ruhr.2010 cultural campaign. Bielfeld reported to the German outlet WAZ that the meter-high pews in Tur's installation bear a striking resemblance to her own work, which was designed to create a forest-like experience.

Bielfeld expressed her devastation upon seeing Tur’s work, stating, “Since then, I’ve focused on the repurposing of churches as well as the changing nature of worship services. So this is truly my area of expertise.” After discovering the installation, she immediately contacted Manifesta 16 to request its removal.

Manifesta 16's Response

A spokesperson for Manifesta 16 responded by acknowledging the visual similarities but stated that the curatorial team, led by Leonie Herweg and René Block, deemed Tur's work to be artistically independent. The curators emphasized that Elevation is part of an ongoing participatory project, which invites visitors to contribute their thoughts.

Tur denied Bielfeld’s allegations, calling them “false and baseless.” He expressed that the media coverage surrounding the controversy has deeply affected him. Tur also mentioned that Bielfeld did not respond to a proposal for a meeting and instead contacted him through her lawyer, prompting him to seek legal protection.

Context of the Installation

Manifesta 16 runs through October 4 and showcases installations across four cities: Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, and Bochum. The curatorial framework aims to reactivate disused spaces, such as churches, for civic and cultural engagements.

With 12 historic churches hosting site-specific installations, the biennial provides a platform for artists to explore themes of community and participation. The ongoing discourse around Elevation highlights the complexities of artistic influence and originality in contemporary art.