APPROPRIATION : FOUNTAIN(after Marcel Duchamp : AP)- 1991

DUCHAMP(L.H.O.O.Q)-Copy of the Mona Lisa

APROPRIATION

Appropriation is known for when someone takes an idea, a work of art, or anything that has been previously created by someone else, and tries to present it as something new.
In many cases, people become famous by using an already existing song, art work and styles, among others; and present it with a new message. Sometimes, the new work seems like the original, with small changes. And sometimes, the work is copied, leading to justice processes.                                                                                                                                                                 Appropriating work has been present in Art history for centuries. For example, in 1912 Pablo Picasso and George Blague incorporated real objects into their work, such as newspapers, that is also considered appropriating, when combining things from different contexts and adding them into a work of art. 

Appropriating everyday, common objects was present in many art movements, such as dada, surrealism, fluxus, pop art, among others. Taking these already known objects, and giving them a new meaning, changing their function, is called found art. A Found object is an object with an already designated non-artistic function, changed into a piece of art.
Also, appropriated objects and images extensively appear in the 1950’s when pop art artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichteinstein used popular culture images and gave these old images, new meaning.
Even nowadays, lots of artists still appropriate art styles to express their ideas and feelings in an innovative way. It is a very tricky subject though, because if people claim an artist’s work as its own, it will definitely lead to court trials.

Campnell's Soup (1968) Andy Warhol