Nadia Plesner, a Danish artist and a student at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, has kicked world famous fashion house Louis Vuitton’s ass. A few years back Nadia Plesner had a creative vision and she executed it perfectly. She made an art work called Darfurnica, a modern version of Picasso’s Guernica. In the art work she called for attention to the catastrophic situation in Darfur, which was under-reported while meaningless Hollywood gossips were making headlines. In Darfurnica you see’s besides major players in the Darfur conflict a Louis Vuitton bag under the arm of a starving African child.
Instead of offering her a job, Louis Vuitton decided to sue her, embrace yourself, for half a million. First of all this young art student ain’t got shit. That’s what she probably told them because the case went to court. Let’s get the facts straight, LV, a billion dollar company, with friends in higher places vs. an art student, talented but not even worth LV’s 1% annual profit. That’s how unfair this case was to begin with. It was a Goliath vs. David and I am very glad to see David triumphed once again. On Wednesday the court ruled that “the importance of Plesner (freedom of expression through her work) outweighs the importance of Vuitton (protection of property)”. And ice on the cake Louis Vuitton has been ordered to pay for the artist’s legal costs.
Louis Vuitton really disappointed me, I don’t know whether it is sales decline or ego-tripping but they were wrong in ever aspect. From all companies I would have expected VL to support young creative minds. I guess it is the capitalist way. They really tried to bankrupt Nadia, pocket wise and creatively. I am beyond pleased to witness the courage she showed against this power posturing, show-off case. I hope this unfortunate event will grant her new opportunities and opens doors for her. Louis Vuitton should offer her a Job and not press charges.
I wish Nadia all the best. We will definitely hear more from this creative mind. Keep up the good work Nadia. The Soul Rebel Movement salutes you.