December 28, 2010
Filed under: Art crime — Alan @ 9:15 pm
When prosecutors in Stuttgart, Germany, started investigating a minor art-forgery in December 2008, it did not occur to them that they were about to unravel what could be one of the biggest art frauds in recorded history. The case started with an investigation of 13 suspected fake sculptures promoted as Alberto Giacometti’s work. Soon, however, Stuttgart prosecutor’s office conducted a wider investigation.
The prosecutors were prompted by the extent to which the alleged fraudster went in order to bestow feigned authenticity on the materials – the alleged fraudsters have even published books to support their claims.
In August 2009, the investigation lead to the finding of almost 1,000 fake sculptures along with their forged supporting documents, all claimed to be Giacometti’s. Soon, police uncovered another 150 sculptures.
According to the Stuttgart prosecutor’s office, more fake pieces remain uncovered. Notably, the prosecutors have pressed charges of selling fake pieces against the five defendants, but none were charged for producing the fakes. Who created these pieces is still an open question that the investigation is yet to find
Some believe the fakes were made in China, but prosecutors believe it is most likely to be in EU zone because of its open borders, which makes it easier for the pieces to travel unchecked across Europe.
The investigation is still ongoing, and the prosecutors believe that the fraudsters have handled fakes attributed to at least on other artist, based on the findings of the first investigation. They believe, however, that the production has now stopped where fake Giacometti’s are concerned.
The recovered fake sculptures are of poor quality, and would not have fooled any serious collector, according to experts who studied the seized sculptures. They believe that the buyers were most likely inexperienced people who had the notion of buying art work at a relatively low price.
December 22, 2010
Filed under: Art events — Alan @ 8:21 pm
London will soon embrace yet another highly acclaimed art gallery. The famous American Pace Gallery appointed Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst to represent the gallery in finding and establishing their first art space in London.
Founded in Boston in 1960, Pace Gallery has gone on to establish an eminent status as one of the most renowned art galleries worldwide. It represents artists such as Zhang Xiaogang and the Tuner prizewinner, Keith Tyson.
According to Andrea Glimcher, The Gallery is delighted to announce their first presence in London, and that someone with Dent-Brocklehurst caliber will lead their London operations. Dent-Brook is expected to begin establishing the Pace’s London office by the end of the month.
Dent-Brocklehurst is one of the household names in the world of art. She is the International director and programme coordinator of Moscow based gallery The Garage. Opened in 2008, The Garage is owned by the Russian billionaire and Chelsea football club owner and his partner Dasha Zhukova. Dente-Brocklehurst will still hold an advisory role in The Garage, despite her focus shifting to the Pace Gallery office.
Pace and The Garage are co-organizing an exhibition of Rothkos paintings in spring, according to Glimsher. However, Glimsher was quick to pour water over rumors that the Russian billionaire is linked to Pace’s London operation.
Keith Tyson, the Turner prizewinning artist, expressed his delight that such plan is taking place. Tyson is one of the artists represented by the London Pace Gallery. ‘To be part of such a plan is something that fills me with both excitement and pride,’ Said Tyson. ‘London is the perfect hub between Europe and the United States. It is also rich with profound and avid art collectors.’
The Pace Gallery opening follows the opening of Hauser & Wirth’s opening of their new London, the second in the Capital. Moreover, news have emerged that Gagosian Art Gallery are going to open their third art gallery in London.
December 20, 2010
Filed under: Exhibitions — Alan @ 6:44 am
Marking the 50th anniversary of the laser, the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology, together with Tate Liverpool, will have a giant green laser mounted. The laser will span 800 metres, connecting two art galleries for a shared exhibition of the laser artist Nam June Paik.
Thislaser is an artwork itself, named Laser Link, and is being created by Peter Appleton. Appleton is a laser artist. He is famous for a similar creation for the Capital of Culture in 2008, which connected two chapels in Liverpool.
Appleton is an active laser artist following in the footsteps of Paik’s foundational work. He has two decades experience around the globe and is mesmerized by light’s ability to transfer information. In light of this he is rebuilding a previous work where guests may communicate between two buildings via a beam of light.
December 11, 2010
Filed under: Art News — Alan @ 4:14 am
A yearlong celebration has been taking place in Stoke-on-Trent. The town has been celebrating the 100th year since the federation of six towns that comprise Stoke-on-Trent. The severe weather, however, is causing the cancellation of the year’s final event.
The event was scheduled to take place Saturday in Hanley Park, but current icy and snowy conditions, mixed with the threat of more bad weather, have forced officials to reschedule. The affair in the park will now take place on 26 March, 2011.
Officials commented that due to increasingly severe conditions at the park itself and on the roads, cancellation was the only option left. They had hoped to complete the observance of the federation on its 100th year of existence, but that will now have to stretch into Stoke-on-Kent’s 101st year.
The unveiling of a recently commissioned statue honouring the federation history will still take place outside of the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, located in the town centre. The statue is made up of two intertwining figures, depicting the coming together of the various towns it took to unite and become Stoke-on-Trent.
Several schools in the area will be closed on Friday in anticipation of yet another storm that is predicted to bring sleet, snow, and freezing rain.
December 9, 2010
Filed under: Art News — Alan @ 6:17 am
This year’s Turner prize is favoured to go to a song and its singer. It is the very first time since the prize was developed, in 1984, that a sound installation gained the shortlist. In it, three distinct adaptations of the Scottish folk song, Lowlands Away, is sung by Susan Phillipsz.
The story of the song is a tale about a man who dies at sea but returns home to inform his lover about his fate. The Curator of the Tate Britain, where the prize will be awarded, described it as a physical work that fills the otherwise empty gallery.
Dexter Dalwood made the shortlist as well, with a collection of political paintings wherein one features Dr. David Kelly’s death. The Otolith Group and Angela de la Cruz are also in the running on the shortlist. Each shortlisted artist receives £5000 and the grand prize winner gets an additional £25,000.
While Ms. Phillipsz song might be a slightly controversial artwork, the Turner prize is no stranger to controversy. Tracey Emin had a shortlisted work in 1999 entitled, My Bed, which was literally her unmade bed, featuring stained sheets.
Martin Creedwhose won the prize for a very much-ridiculed work called, The Lights Going On and Off, back in 2001.
December 3, 2010
Filed under: Uncategorized — Alan @ 3:22 am
Tate Britain will receive a thorough going over by the way of refurbishment, now that a shortfall of funding has been raised. The gallery will be redone to become one of the finest in London. It will get an overhaul that will allow exhibition of heavy sculptures for the only time in its history and open more space for acquisitions.
Private investors have put more than £28 million toward the project over the course of the past couple of years. The work is slated to begin in February, with about 25 per cent of the gallery closing for the refurbishing.Not much information has been released in terms of the architectural plans for this project, but with this amount invested, it is clear they would have the crème de la crème from the Business Directory of London. A superior arts establishment, highly valued amongst British culture, the Tate Britain will continue with events and exhibitions right through renovations. The Tate Britain has recently shown a surge in attendance even in lieu of the success of its sister gallery, The Tate Modern. The transformation, unfortunately, is not expected to be complete in time for the London Olympics and the gallery will have to run at about 75 per cent during that time.
December 2, 2010
Filed under: Art News — Alan @ 6:35 am
Pictures created by Pablo Picasso, previously unknown, are now in the hands of the French government. More than 270 works of art attributed to the famous painter, Pablo Picasso, have turned up in the trunk of a retired electrician in France.
The man, who showed the works to Picasso’s son in an effort to authenticate them, is now being investigated. He is known to have done electrical work for Picasso and he even installed an alarm system for him at one time.
Picasso’s estate is quite upset that the pictures have surfaced in the possession of one individual and believe that they must have been obtained in some ill-gotten manner. French police are investigating the circumstances along with the agency assigned with combating crimes in relation to cultural items.
There are a total of more than 270 works ranging from watercolours, sketches, lithographs, to portraits and collages. It is reported that the collection is probably worth around £50 million. It seems that the majority of work dates from Picasso’s most productive days, during 1900 to about 1930.
Pierre Le Guennec, along with his wife, was attempting to have administrators from Piscasso’s estate, and his son, Claude, verify the work. They claim that the pictures were gifts from the famous author to Pierre, now 71. They say that they are not interested in selling, but are getting up in years and wanted to be certain about what they were leaving their children.
Claude Picasso and his father’s administrators admit that Pablo Picasso was often generous with his paintings.
They say, however, that such gifts were always signed and dated and that this many pieces represent such a substantial volume of work that it cannot be imagined that the artist would simply hand them over to an electrician.
