UrBuilder is a blog that allows users to trace the origins of appropriation-based works of art. It charts various types of appropriation, such as post-production, remix, reenactment, quotation, and parody. UrBuilder illustrates the connections between artists and artworks, as well as outlines a standard form for recognising influence and reference. While almost every work of art "borrows" from works that came before it - as well as from surrounding culture - ones which explicitly take parts of copyrighted material are under attack. The laws regarding quotation and citation in the visual arts are quite differnt than in the literary world. One cannot simply cite the author and publication information. Copyright restricts one's ability to refernce and comment on culture. UrBilder hypothesizes a mode of citation akin to literary quotation for appropriation-based works as well as a visualization of the geneology of artworks.
The name 'UrBuilder' reference Freud's concept of the 'Urbild' - or original image (bild). With UrBuilder one can construct links between artworks and their origins.
