Canadian art display ‘plagiarised’ Fringe photos

0 The picture of Bisha K Ali as displayed in the tunnel in Calgary which also featured Scots comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli A public art installation in Canada will be removed following anger from Edinburgh Fringe comedians who accused the artist of plagiarising their pictures and passing them off as his own.

Canadian artist Derek Michael Besant banked £12,000 for staging the artwork.

The work includes 20 large portraits featuring blurred faces of people he claimed were residents of Calgary where he has been active since the early 1970s.

A chance encounter led to accusations the images were actually taken from a 2015 brochure listing comedians performing at the Fringe Festival. The pictures included comics Bisha K Ali and Hardeep Singh Kohli.

The performers complained that it used photos of them without their permission.

Performers, who took part in the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015, have accused Mr Besant of being a “plagiarist” and said his actions were “hilarious and bizarre”.

A Fringe Society spokesman said they would be speaking to Canadian authorities.