I announce the end of my art practise here in New Zealand.

 

The saga of the ownership of my own art continues.

It is not over even after 7 year battle.

I am done here.

Thereby I announce the end of my art practise here in New Zealand.

I lost my case in Supreme Court regarding my copyright to my own work.The good result was that I was given the right to decide how the copyright to be used.However copyright was deemed to be relationship property therefore I have to compensate  financially for half of the value of the copyright.

Please help me understand how can the copyright of the work that was created during the 20 year marriage be valued?I am meant to pay for the copyright even when my intentions are not to use it, but if someone decides it has value, then I have to compensate my ex for the potential value.

There were hundreds of paintings created, most of them sold to keep us afloat.

It was a struggle and as I was the only income earner in the family the fear of losing the house was constant.

I managed however to bring up two children, provide for 3 dependants, pay the mortgage etc. day to day expenses from my art sales.

That in itself is a miracle, it was a struggle but I’m proud that I managed.

With the New Zealand marital law everything has to be split 50/50 in separation. Therefore no matter how unequal the contribution has been everything has to be split in half, including my original art and their copyright. 

This absolutely makes no sense as it was 100% my business and personal brand that is fully intertwined with my persona,  with no contribution from the other. 

It makes no sense as I have provided and paid for most of expenses from it and also done most of the housework, and anything relating to school, homework, hobby runs etc. 

This of course means Im going to lose my home and art studio and half of my private collection paintings and having to pay for half of the value of the copyright.

Sure I get it, if a couple makes a home together, contributes mentally, physically and financially to a home and making living together, 50/50 is fair. 

This law was created to protect the housewives who had to give up their careers to become a home maker ( absolutely outdated these days) and in this case crossly abused, as I was doing both of the roles.  

Especially with art, that is so personal to me, it is my heart and soul, absolutely just me.  I have been hurt so badly with someone stealing that from me, trying to destroy my whole being by using my own art.

And don’t even try giving me that rubbish that surely I was supported by a hardworking husband to go and do artsy fartsy stuff. 

I’m yet to having to go through the family court to divide the assets, as no negotiations have ever worked, and definitely not because of lack of trying from my part. 

Yet another round of court hearings and disputes about the originals this time. I may lose half of them or if I want to avoid the abuse via them in the years to come, I have to buy my own work back. 

That work is my private collection that I have saved as my career showcase, and is never meant to be sold, hence in my opinion I should not have to compensate financially for them.

But knowing what we are dealing with here, will half of the house value even suffice?

We are dealing with craziness here. 

So here I am, left with nothing and the fear of losing my right to my art. If you call that fairness, I’m done and Im gone. 

You can keep the fraud, the fake, and the parasite. The artwork acquired through abuse, deceit, and exploitation will forever be tainted by that spirit. That does not carry my soul. 

But no one can stop me from creating more art or severing my strong connection to my children. And that’s what truly matters at the end of the day. Exciting opportunities await elsewhere, hopefully where logic prevails.

Adios!