London English Museum removed two poems from the early 20th century feminist revolutionary and poet Qiu Jin of sight after the Vancouver writer Yilin Wang accused the institution of reproducing its copyrighted translations of the works without permission, credit or compensation.
The poems were included in the exhibition “China’s Hidden Century(until October 8), which explores life in 19th century China and the effects of the rise of new art forms and technologies. Qiu, a women’s rights activist who ran a school that trained young revolutionaries against the Qing dynasty, is one of the subjects of the exhibit. (Authorities beheaded her when she was 31 in 1907, leading some to call her the Joan of Arc of China.)
Wang took to Twitter when she discovered that her translations of Qiu’s poems were on display on the show, accusing the museum of copyright infringement, as reported Hyperallergic. Translations, even of writings in the public domain, are considered derivative works protected by their own copyright.
“This was an unintentional human error for which the museum has apologized,” the British Museum said in a statement. statement. “We noted their translations in the exhibition. We have also offered financial payment for the period during which the translations appeared in the exhibition as well as for the continued use of citations of their translations in the exhibition catalogue. The catalog includes an acknowledgment of their work. We continue to be in discussion with Yilin Wang.
At press time, Wang had not responded to requests from Artnet News, but she had posted an update on Twitter. “Someone who works for the museum has asked for forgiveness (neither organizer has apologized),” she wrote. “They offer to send me their release form and I asked them for a list of where the translations appear. I hope to have more news soon.
Then, Wang shared this email she said she received from the museum: “We will not reinstate the translations in the exhibition that were removed following your complaint, and therefore you will not be recognized in the exhibition. because your work will not be highlighted.”
The museum declined to comment further on why the exhibit would not simply add credit for the translated poems.
Wang is currently working on a book translation of Qiu’s poetry and has so far published around 12 translated poems – a process that can take months, “perhaps an average of 20-50 hours per poem”, she wrote on Twitter.
The translator learned of the museum’s unauthorized use of her work because she was reviewing the exhibit as part of her ongoing research into Qui’s life and career.
Qiu Jin in a kimono. Wisconsin Historical Society Collection, WHI-111120, Diaries and Photographs of Carrie Chapman Catt 1911–12.
“I was shocked to find my own translations staring at me,” Wang wrote, sharing photographs of the translated poems not only in the museum’s galleries, but also in the exhibition’s print catalog and online guide. the exhibition.
Now she wants an apology from the curators of the exhibition, an explanation of how it happened and the consequences for the organizers, as well as compensation and written credit.
The exhibition was curated by Jessica Harrison-Hall, Curator of the Chinese Ceramics Museum, and Julia Lovell, Professor of Chinese History and Literature at Birkbeck, University of London. The two received a grant of £719,000 ($949,370) from the Art and Humanities Research Council to support the exhibition.
‘China’s Hidden Century’ is on view at the British Museum, Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, UK, 18 May – 8 October 2023.
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