Pierre Castignola

Department: Man and Leisure
Website: pierrecastignola.com

COPYTOPIA

WHAT
A look at intellectual property using one of the most democratic designs of our time to reclaim creation: the ubiquitous white plastic chair.

WHY
The world is full of copyrights, but the system no longer works. Instead of protecting creators and inventors, they are now limiting the creative process. We should be able to improve on existing designs, Pierre Castignola believes.

HOW
Nobody knows who originally designed the white plastic chair. Yet, numerous remakes are patented. Pierre takes sections of different designs and re-assembles them, to show the ambiguous relationship between patent law and the freedom to create.

QUOTE
Imitation is part of human nature.