The Mondrian

Location: By a painting, referred to as the Mondrian, on the outside wall of a house.

“Time to redo the Mondrian. It’s badly flaking and starting to warp.”

“When did it go up?”

“Be a good twelve years since it was done.”

“But it isn’t exactly a painting, is it?”

“No, it’s a composite. White board, black electrical tape for the lines and three tester pots from the hardware store.”

“Ever had anyone challenge it?”

“Like because it’s a fake?”

“No, because you were copying a Mondrian.”

“No. How could they? It isn’t an exact copy of any of his paintings. It isn’t done in the same media. It’s not plagiarism because I don’t pass it off as my own. Just borrowed it.”

“Hmm.”

“And anyway, how could you copyright something so simple as black lines on a white board? Ever hear of any Japanese trying to patent their shoji sliding doors design?”

“No but some Indian is trying to patent yoga.”

“The emotion of beauty is always obscured by the appearance of the object. Therefore the object must be eliminated from the picture.” Piet Mondrian.