Kavionart's Painting World Boss (Vybz Kartel) that keeps going viral in a misrepresented way. His image was recently put on a t-shirt that Kavion did not authorize.
In the bustling world of social media, the journey of a creative work can take unexpected twists and turns, sometimes leading to misrepresentation, misuse, and outright theft. For Kavionart, a talented artist with a passion for capturing history and culture through his paintings, the recent discovery of copyright infringement surrounding one of his artworks, World Boss (Vybz Kartel) has sparked a much-needed conversation about the importance of giving credit where credit is due.
The painting in question, World Boss (Vybz Kartel) originally created by Kavionart in 2008 as part of a college assignment, has been subject to mislabeling and unauthorized use since it gained viral attention in 2013. Kavion mentioned he never completed this work, hence the female being a placeholder in the composition from the original classical painting, Jupiter and Thetis by painter Jean-Augutse-Dominique Ingres. Despite Kavionart's intentions and the true origin of the artwork, it has been erroneously associated with untrue representation of the Jamaican musician Vybz Kartel and used in ways that the artist never authorized or intended. NB: The image above shows photos of the original piece Kavion based his World Boss (Vybz Kartel) piece on, an example article that misconstrued this piece by the artist (even after the artist made it clear they made a wrong conclusion) and the latest theft of the artist's work put on a t-shirt that rapper and singer, Drake (champagnepapi), recently posted on his story.
The latest incident of infringement occurred when the image was illegally placed on a T-shirt by Eletees, a move that caught the attention of none other than the influential artist Drake, who shared the T-shirt on social media. Kavionart has been quick to clarify that the painting is not a religious or free image. Instead, as mentioned, it was inspired by a college assignment to reinterpret a painting from art history to match a contemporary headline, with Vybz Kartel's influence on Jamaican youth culture being the subject at the time. During this time when Kavion reimagined this piece through art, Vybz Kartel was at the center of the media headlines.
This is not the first time Kavionart's work has been stolen or credit not given. His work, though being in the top searches of Jamaica, has been used by many to showcase black history/pride (where the poster sometimes go as far as to cut out his signature out of his paintings), on books, on song covers, t-shirt designs in multiple countries and languages all without his permission and without giving him credit. Pieces such as Nanny of the Maroons, Marcus Garvey, Reggae Heartbeat, Haile Selassie have been seen by possibly millions with many often omitting the creator's name, Kavionart. Doesn't that indicate a serious issue? Where do people get the gall to claim another's work as their own?...and not give credit to a creative who works numerous hours, dedicated to his craft?
Kavionart is not just an artist but a storyteller, educator, and advocate for black culture and history. With over 18 years of experience in painting, Kavion prefers to work with oils but also enjoys the versatility of watercolors and acrylics, as well as sketching with pastels, graphite, and charcoal. His goal as an artist is not only to capture the beauty of life but also to inspire positive change through his imagery.
Through his illustrative depictions of historical figures and scenes, Kavionart seeks to educate and preserve black culture while shedding light on life's beauty and struggles. His passion for painting stems from seeing art in all things, from the mundane to the magnificent, and he paints what he sees with a dedication to authenticity and enlightenment.
As admirers of art and supporters of creative expression, it is crucial that we stand in solidarity with artists like Kavionart and advocate for their rights. By respecting the creative process, giving credit where it is due, and supporting artists' endeavors, we can ensure that their work continues to inspire, educate, and enrich our lives for generations to come. Kavionart's contact is kavionartwork@gmail.com , www.kavionart.com . See collage below for some of the Kavionart's work.
