T-shirt design angers artist

Sculptor John Radford is upset his Western Park creation has appeared on a retailer's T-shirts without permission. Picture / Kenny Rodger

For seven years it has been an Auckland landmark, but a Ponsonby sculpture is at the centre of a spat after becoming a Hallensteins T-shirt design.

The clothing chain began producing T-shirts with an image of the three TIP sculptures in Western Park.

But it has infuriated artist John Radford, who claims his copyright has been infringed.

"The damage to my reputation as an artist to have my work displayed on a cheap T-shirt is immeasurable," Mr Radford said.

The T-shirts came out at the beginning of last summer, carrying Hallensteins' Planet 8 logo, but with no reference to Mr Radford.

Hallensteins has stopped selling the item after his complaint, apologising for "an innocent mistake".

But Mr Radford said the company was refusing to acknowledge the copyright breach or pay compensation he believes he is entitled to.

He said he had spent thousands on legal advice and faced a much larger bill if forced to take court action.

"I've been an artist for the past 18 years and take my work very seriously. This devalues what I do."

The TIP sculpture was installed in December 1998. Costing $380,000, it represents the heritage buildings "smashed to pieces" by developers in Auckland in the 1980s. Mr Radford retained copyright of the commissioned work.

His claim has been backed by copyright lawyer Ken Moon.

"If a person passed through a museum, took a picture of a displayed work, then made prints and began selling it, that is a clear infringement. That's effectively what's happened here," Mr Moon said.

However, Hallensteins merchandise director Roy Dillon said the matter should be closed.

He declined to reveal how many shirts had been made and sold as that was "commercially sensitive".