For the Icelandic artist ODEE (Oddur Eysteinn Friðriksson), normal life is currently on hold. At the end of September he was at London’s High Court defending himself against legal action brought by one of the largest fishing companies in Europe, the Icelandic-based Samherji. The case relates to his artwork - and the unauthorised use of the company’s website and brand - which draws attention to what’s known as the #Fishrot scandal, originally brought to light by whistleblower Jóhannes Stefansson. On the first day of the hearing, WIN and the UK NGO Protect, published a letter signed by more than 25 civil society organisations from around the world in support of the artist’s freedom of expression through art. These whistleblower protection and free expression organisations were not alone in speaking out in support of ODEE. The Federation of Icelandic Artists, The Icelandic Association of Visual Artists and the University of Bergen, where ODEE is currently doing his master’s degree in art, have all sent open letters in support of the artist.
See letter from the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design, University of Bergen here.
Danish artist Nadia Plesner, who successfully defended herself against a lawsuit by the fashion brand Louis Vuitton for her artwork ‘Darfurnica’ also provided a letter of support for ODEE for the trial.
The case has had global reach with more than 30 publications/media platforms covering the case and the associated debate about the consequences of artists using their right to freely express themselves and explore social and political issues. As some journalists have suggested, by taking ODEE to court Samherji has unintentionally brought more media and public attention to their role in the original #Fishrot corruption scandal. Namibian officials have already been charged and jailed awaiting trial for their part in the alleged corruption, and following the ODEE case, IPPR Namibia has renewed its call for Samherji to pay damages to Namibia for the harm caused by the Fishrot corruption scandal, including compensating the victims, namely the fishing industry workers and people of Namibia. Meanwhile in Iceland, criminal investigations are ongoing surrounding Samherji’s involvement to secure additional fishing quotas through bribery.
The decision in the case is expected in the coming weeks; for those wishing to find more information and to support ODEE, please visit their website below.
ODEE | Icelandic Conceptual Performance Artist & Cultural Jammer
To read more about the human rights impacts of the fishrot scandal, see IPPR Namibia’s Report We Are the Ones That Suffered the Most published with the support of the British High Commission in Windhoek.
Photograph courtesy of Ed Holland for Avant-Garde Lawyers