Die Antwoord's Yo-Landi Vi$$er and Ninja as seen in this still from the teaser trailer to promote their album Ten$ion.

Michelle Jones

DIE ANTWOORD purposefully referenced Jane Alexander’s artwork Butcher Boys in the teaser trailer for their new album Ten$ion, says zef rapper Ninja.

The video has been pulled from the internet amid copyright claims by acclaimed SA resistance artist Alexander.

Die Antwoord, made up of Ninja, Yo-Landi Vi$$er and DJ Hi-Tek, released the 30-second video about three weeks ago to promote their new album Ten$ion.

Ninja said the dark-horned creature in the video was “definitely” influenced by the Butcher Boys sculpture, an iconic artwork showing the dehumanising effects of apartheid.

He had known Alexander personally for many years.

“Jane is one of our favourite artists in the world. Our reference to Jane’s Butcher Boys sculpture was a homage to one of our favourite SA icons.

“These beautiful sculptures are one of the few South African artworks we are truly proud to be associated with,” said Ninja.

“We were a little taken back when Jane said she didn’t like it that we referenced her work in our little video sting. Jane has always loved all the art we made prior to this.”

He said a conversation with Alexander had even inspired a lyric in their song Enter The Ninja.

Alexander had appointed a firm of lawyers to protect the rights to the sculpture and they had taken steps to ensure the video was not further distributed.

Ninja said: “We immediately removed the video sting off our website and off our YouTube channel when Jane said she wasn’t happy with it.

“We have a huge respect for Jane and regard the Butcher Boys as one of the most beautiful sculptures of all time. I have seen the three Butcher Boys characters used many times in different South African theatrical plays, and also referenced in artworks by other South African artists, as they are such strong and immediately identifiable South African icons.”

He said the preview video was “just a cute little short piece we made for fun”.

“With all this said, we still love and respect Jane’s work with full force and she will always remain one of our favourite South African artists.”

Emma Bedford, a senior art specialist at Strauss & Co, said this was an interesting test case which could set a precedent on copyright issues.

“While referencing and sampling have become the order of the day across the arts, the rights of the artist to assert their authorship and contest the wholesale theft or corruption of their work must be able to be asserted.

“As the former curator of contemporary art at Iziko South African National Gallery and the person who was most responsible for Jane Alexander’s Butcher Boys, I am very aware of the sculpture’s significance as one of the most powerful and iconic images of South Africa.

“However, as one of the most compelling works of art in South African history, it had to be constantly guarded against all kinds of misuse and abuse.”

Kathryn Smith, senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University’s department of Visual Arts, said: “The fact is that Die Antwoord goes viral internationally and will reach more people than a local artwork could conceivably do, and will thereby profit from a video which clearly references this iconic work.

“The person who created the original work that inspired the video wants their due. I support this. But I also support the individual’s right as cultural agent to respond creatively to what we are exposed to, whether it is pop culture or so-called ‘high’ art. Both artists have moral rights in this matter.”

michelle.jones@inl.co.za