New report finds faked Indigenous art accounts for $54m, or more than half, of sector sales revenue

Inauthentic and appropriated Indigenous art accounts for up to 75 per cent of sales, a report has found, robbing the Far North’s Indigenous artists of deserved income and degrading their culture.

Cairns Aboriginal artist Melanie Hava said her art had been appropriated by others. Picture: Emily Barker

Melanie Hava is a mother of three and a renowned Far North Aboriginal artist who paints deep ancestral stories into her distinctive works.

She can support her family through her art sales; but, sometimes, only just.

Yet she, and hundreds of other Indigenous artists across FNQ, are subject to extraordinary income loss due to a thriving market for inauthentic Indigenous artworks and styled souvenirs, according to a recent report by Australia’s Productivity Commission.

The report reads: “The Commission estimates that up to 75% of Indigenous-style consumer products in the market are non-Indigenous authored. In 2019-20, consumers spent up to $54m on non-Indigenous authored souvenirs, accounting for over half of total spending …”

Ms Hava said “sneaky” plagiarism of her works has been anguishing enough to give her cause to consider quitting her career.

Aboriginal artist Melanie Hava supports her family through the sales of her artworks. Picture: Emily Barker

“I support myself and my children solely on my art sales. There have been many times where I have lived from payday to payday and have struggled to make ends meet,” Ms Hava said.

“I’ve had, still have, companies that copy my work on products to sell online and I never know until followers on social media point it out … it’s an injustice.

“Not only does it not represent true Queensland Indigenous art and culture, it affects families who live off the money made from art sales.”

The report particularly highlighted the pervasiveness of appropriated Indigenous art within sales of souvenirs: bags, key rings, magnets, stationary and coasters – up to 95 per cent of which are non-Indigenous authored.

Further, it’s analysis of one major stock image site indicated 80 per cent of images depicting Indigenous designs, styles and motifs were non-Indigenous authored.

The report found these images were being used on book covers, websites and marketing materials of various organisations.

The Commission made several legislative recommendations to curtail the problem, including mandatory disclosure requirements for non-Indigenous authored products.

Francoise Lane, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s artistic director and a Torres Strait Islander artist, said the proposal is one step in the right direction.

“It places the onus for the sale of authentic Indigenous art and products onto the retailers,” Ms Lane said.

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s artistic director and a Torres Strait Islander artist Francoise Lane. Picture: Supplied

“It’s effectiveness really relies on … those with decision-making power. For example, shopping centre vendors not accepting stores selling fake Indigenous art products.

“Having mandatory disclosure means the production process is transparent on a label and the consumer can make the choice to purchase or not.”

Ms Lane said Cairns, as a tourist city, was plagued by fake Indigenous art products. She said the financial value of plagiarised art sales was the difference between poverty and viable employment for some artists, especially those regional and remote.

“(Fake art) devalues Indigenous peoples’ cultures and identities. Furthermore, tourists are being deceived in terms of their purchases,” she said.

“If the shop owner or gallery attendant can’t tell you, or produce the documentation demonstrating provenance and correct attribution … it may be a fake piece (or) may not be an ethical business arrangement between the retailer and whomever the designs are coming from.

“Let’s get serious on a national education campaign on how to identify authentic Indigenous art.”

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said he supported the idea of a form of mandatory disclosure that distinguished authentic works from inauthentic, and that he’s prepared to raise the issue in a parliamentary setting.

“We’ve also got to ensure that we’ve got a pathway for Indigenous people to be part of the solution,” he said.

Originally published as New report finds faked Indigenous art accounts for $54m, or more than half, of sector sales revenue