Barcelona City Council’s new “Poca Vergonya” (Little Shame) public awareness campaign faces allegations of “plagiarism” from Japanese photographer Shin Noguchi. The political group Junts per Barcelona brought the claims to light at the Ajuntament, citing Noguchi’s social media posts regarding similarities to his work. The campaign promotes the recently approved Civility Ordinance, which has increased fines for various infractions across the city.
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Plagiarism Allegations Emerge
Shin Noguchi stated on Instagram that he noticed “points in common with his work” in the municipal campaign’s visuals. He initially thought the images might be AI-generated due to their striking resemblance to his style. However, upon seeing accompanying video material, Noguchi understood that the content was specifically created for the municipal campaign. This prompted his public complaint, which quickly gained traction on social media platforms.
Council and Photographer Defend Originality
The City Council, however, firmly “defends the originality of the work of the Barcelona photographer Hugo Menduiña, author of the campaign, as well as the suitability of its contents and his artistic work,” according to press service sources. Menduiña responded to Noguchi via social media, expressing deep regret for any misunderstanding the situation may have caused. He firmly asserted that “any resemblance is pure coincidence.” Menduiña also added that throughout his career, spanning more than forty years in visual arts, he has occasionally experienced the same feeling as Noguchi. He believes someone had been inspired by his own work. He further clarified that he did not know Noguchi or his work prior to this controversy.
Junts Criticises Council’s Campaign Management
Junts per Barcelona’s president at the City Council, Jordi Martí Galbis, strongly criticised the Collboni government’s handling of institutional advertising. He affirmed, “We are facing a new controversy that highlights the lack of rigour and control of the Collboni government in the management of institutional advertising campaigns.” Martí Galbis highlighted a previous incident, recalling, “A few months ago, we already denounced the illegal campaign ‘Fem la Barcelona de la teva vida’ for which the government spent more than one million euros on partisan propaganda. Now, it seems we have another serious problem with another municipal campaign.”
Martí Galbis also raised concerns about the legal implications of the current allegations. He stated, “The reported facts could constitute a violation of intellectual property rights and copyright, as well as bad practice in public contracting.” He emphasised the responsibility of public institutions, adding, “Public institutions must guarantee respect for creative rights, as well as ensure ethical and responsible practices in their communication campaigns.” The “Poca Vergonya” campaign aims to enforce the new Civility Ordinance, officially known as the Ordinance of Coexistence. This ordinance has expanded the list of infractions and significantly increased the associated fines for residents and visitors in Barcelona. It impacts daily life across the city’s ten districts, home to approximately 1.6 million residents, addressing issues from littering to noise pollution.
Ongoing Dialogue and Disagreement
Following Noguchi’s initial complaint, the City Council’s press service confirmed they contacted the Japanese photographer. They offered him comprehensive information to clarify the misunderstanding, including the opportunity to speak directly with Menduiña. The council also pointed out that the campaign comprises eight photographs and seven videos. This is a much broader collection of materials than the two images that prompted the complaint. While the council initially regretted that Noguchi had not responded to Menduiña’s explanations, Noguchi later posted again on social media. He reiterated his position, insisting that the work “looks very, very similar, so much so that even AI can be confused.” Noguchi added, “But it is not my work, and I have not received any compensation for a supposed inspiration.” The situation remains unresolved, with both sides maintaining their positions regarding the originality and inspiration behind the “Poca Vergonya” campaign.
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Originally published by Tot Barcelona. Read original article.
