#1000Kindness

Copyright Registration Number #: 1179087

#1000Kindness
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Can you differentiate and discern between the images presented in the video, accurately identifying which ones belong to #1000Kindness and which ones are from Les Colombes?

The composition of the images comprises 71% from #1000Kindness and 29% from Les Colombes.

71% #1000kindness
29% Les Colombes

Unique features of #1000kindness include:

  1. Each individual bird carries a handwritten message contributed by participants.
  2. Participants are encouraged to write messages that promote kindness, aiming to foster a sense of peace.
  3. Participant interaction is an integral part of the installation, actively engaging individuals in the artistic experience.
  4. The birds are hung individually, arranged in a group formation reminiscent of a flock of flying birds. This arrangement stands in contrast to the conventional practice of hanging multiple cranes on a single string at temples for the traditional 1,000 prayers.
  5. The material used for the birds is paper.
  6. Participants are expected to carry out acts of kindness within a 48-hour timeframe as part of their involvement in the installation.
Read more about #1000Kindness

As an independent small Asian artist, I need your help to spread the word about cultural appropriation and copyright infringement of my artwork!

Back in 2011, I embarked on a deeply personal endeavour called #1000Kindness, an installation born out of a hidden prayer aimed at alleviating my sister’s suffering during her battle with cancer. Drawing inspiration from the age-old Buddhist tradition of hanging multiple paper cranes on a tree as a means of sending prayers for health and prosperity, I sought solace and strength through this creative process, viewing the crane as a sacred messenger to Buddha.

In 2011, the doctors had given my sister a cancer prognosis of 3 to 5 months to live. #1000Kindness was my spiritual contract to perform and promote acts of kindness to help her. As a condition I imposed on myself, I refrained from speaking about it for seven years after her passing. Remarkably, she successfully underwent cancer treatment, experienced a recovery, and lived relatively pain-free for approximately two additional years before eventually passing away on December 23, 2013.

In 2014, the #1000Kindness installation art played a significant role in the opening of the Southbank Art Festival in London, UK, captivating the attention of over 7 million individuals. Additionally, in 2013, the installation traveled to 14 locations in both Canada and the USA as part of a partnership with Marimekko and EQ3 for their North American campaign.

Fast forward to December 23, 2020, which marked the seventh anniversary of my sister’s premature departure. By an unexpected stroke of luck (or perhaps guided by the hand of fate).

I stumbled upon a Facebook post showcasing an installation titled Les Colombes, created by German artist Michael Pendry. Astonishingly, this artwork bore an uncanny resemblance to my own #1000Kindness installation.

What struck me profoundly was the fact that Michael Pendry’s Les Colombes had appropriated not only the medium, visual aesthetics, and style of my #1000Kindness, but it had also detached itself entirely from any cultural or personal narrative that lay at the heart of my original creation.

To compound matters, Les Colombes shamelessly enjoyed extensive international exposure and attracted a much larger audience, while #1000Kindness, despite its numerous exhibitions across global cities, faced a disheartening lack of support from exhibition partners. This stark discrepancy lays bare the systemic biases that privilege certain artists over others, undermining the integrity and recognition of independent, culturally significant creations.

It is essential to recognize that #1000Kindness was not solely a personal tribute to my sister but a work deeply intertwined with Asian traditions and aesthetics.

The glaring disparity in the reach and success of these two installations can only be attributed to the privilege enjoyed by a Western European artist, who unabashedly borrows and appropriates from a small, independent artist like myself—a visible minority. This act of cultural exploitation has resulted in a commercially prosperous creation for the Western artist, overshadowing the original work by an Asian artist.

By shedding light on this disheartening situation, I hope to generate understanding and support for the issues of cultural appropriation and copyright infringement that persist within the art world. Together, we can work towards a more equitable and respectful artistic landscape that celebrates diverse voices and honors the significance of cultural heritage.

“I had the same idea, back in 2004, never went through with it. There’s a chance this is just a coincidence…” JP Morales

The practice of 1000 prayers has been deeply rooted in Asian culture for hundreds of years. It gained popularity as people would string multiple cranes onto a single thread and hang them at temples. Over time, individuals have incorporated this practice into various artistic expressions. As recently as August 2020 in LA, there was an art installation showcasing this tradition (see picture).

My #1000kindness installation possesses a distinctive combination of features, which coincidentally aligns with the features of the work by the German artist. To use an analogy, it’s as if someone took a shirt and altered the fabric or modified the font in a written piece, and then claimed it as their own creation.

Art and writing are subjective forms of expression where similar ideas can naturally arise. It’s akin to designing a shirt where the materials and stitching may be identical, but it’s the arrangement, layout, and cut that make it truly unique. The execution of the work and the final result of the ideas will never be exactly the same. In fact, the probability of 5 to 6 points aligning perfectly is remarkably low, with odds of approximately 1 in 2,330,636 chances.

Please help to amplify!

I am asking all of you to help spread the word on social media by posting, sharing, tweeting, etc. to help this go viral. I need all of your help to amplify this message.

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I have reached out to the representatives of Michael Pendry on May 4, 2021. To honour the kindness and peace messaging of #1000Kindness, I wanted to seek an amicable resolution on this issue. But despite having sent emails to multiple individuals I have yet to receive any reply or even acknowledgment.

I believe Pendry’s actions unlawful and deprive me of the benefits, professional opportunities, privileges, and profits from the exclusive use of my copyrighted work. As the copyright holder of #1000Kindness, I did not authorize him to reproduce or make a derivative work from my piece, nor to distribute and display it for commercial or other purpose. 

Most importantly, Pendry’s piece Les Colombes had appropriated its style and look from an Asian installation by an Asian artist except without the Asian philosophy and ideas that were behind the original creation. It is akin to wearing an Asian costume for Halloween where you’re mimicking the look without any concept of the meaning.

Further, Pendry enjoyed the advantage of institutional support and exposure. Les Colombes is a well-organized and funded international exhibit sponsored by the German Bishops Conference and Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Foreign Office in Berlin. 

In contrast, as an artist from an ethnic minority background in a Western Country, I haven’t had the opportunity to do another large-scale installation since the earlier days of #1000kindness despite having sent out numerous installation proposals over the years. 

I feel Michael Pendry’s piece is an infringement of my work that deprives me of professional opportunities and, more importantly, may cause art spectators and curators to think I was the one who had copied his work should I ever get a chance to present my installation. 

As an independent small Asian artist, I need your support to defend against cultural appropriation and copyright infringement of my artwork!

You can help by

LIKE . SHARE & COMMENT

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Keep the conversation going so #1000Kindness will have a more amplified digital searchable footprint!

Comparative time line

I suggest reaching out to the organizers of previous Les Colombes exhibitions and urging them to issue a public announcement that acknowledges the copyright holder, Adam Quang, and the original work, #1000kindness. Additionally, you can request fair compensation for the use of the copyrighted work in the form of standard artist remuneration.

contact past hosts​

Click on > icon for links and info

#1000Kindness by Adam Quang

2011

Adam Quang created #1000Kindness installation art, as a prayer to help the artist’s sister ease the pain while going through cancer treatment.

2012

Private commission

2013 (Read More)

Marimekko and EQ3 asked to partner for their North American windows campaign

2014 (Read More)

Southbank Art Festival . London UK

2017 - Present (Read More)

Street Style Installation Art

2019

Private commission

Les Colombes by Michael Pendry

2014-2015 Munich - Heilig-Geist, Viktualienmarkt

CKappes (at) eomuc.de / kbasso-ricci (at) eomuc.de

2015. Burghausen. St.Jakob

ejaindl@outlook.de / florian@florianschneider2020.de / pfarramt.burghausen.st.jakob@bistum-passau.de

2016 Jerusalem - Dormitio Abbey, Mount Zion

abtei@dormitio.net

2017 London - St.Martins-in-the-Fields

info@smitf.org / Andy@10yetis.co.uk

2018 Munich - Heilig-Geist, Viktualien-Market

instagram: @viktualienmarkt_muenchen

2018 Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, England

press@salcath.co.uk /  j.pike@salcath.co.uk

2018 - 2019 San Francisco - Grace Cathedral

Twitter, instagram: @gracecathedral / FB, YouTube : @GraceCathedralinSF / info@gracecathedral.org

2019 Munich - CityQuartier FÜNF HÖFE shopping center

e.haeffner@bl-gruppe.de / r.woerlen@bl-gruppe.de

2019 New York - CHR -Church of the Heavenly Rest

lthorpe@heavenlyrest.org / info@heavenlyrest.org

2020. DC. Washington National Cathedral

info@cathedral.org / TFranquiz@westendstrategy.com

2021. ”The White Doves” Prozellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg

info@nymphenburg.com / press@nymphenburg.com

2021. Houston ”The White Doves” Marathon Oil Tower

John.Spafford@CBRE.com / sfrings@mmprop.com

Interview

2014 #1000kindness . UK

#1000Kindness: Artist Adam Quang talk to Colourful Radio host, Lisa Bent . Southbank Festival London, UK and seem by 7 million plus people.

2018 Les Colombes . UK

Salisbury Cathedral. Les Colombes: Artist Michael Pendry talks to curator Jacquiline Creswell

#1000Kindness​

A project sending out a ripple effect of kindness, ​helping create eternal peace for the people of the world.

- since 2011 -

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Press & Publicity

Adam Quang

Multi-award-winning interdisciplinary artist | author | yogi

Adam’s current work, the #AQSFAI series focuses on sustainability and technology, and have been shown at 📍Design Miami / Art Basel show in Miami, USA and 📍T.I.F.F. – Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto, Canada.

Adam’s art piques our senses of touch and sight, and plays with our minds through imagery and metaphoricity. He encourages or provokes the viewer to re-imagine new usage of our technologies and fashion consumption. His works have visited 35 different cities across 5 continents and have been seen by 7 million-plus people at the 📍 Southbank Art Festival, London, UK.

Artist statement