Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Weird News
Related: About this forumI'm not trying to destroy art, says man planning to do just that if Assange dies in jail
I can't work out if this belongs in Weird News, or GD.
But Andrei Molodkin, the Russian dissident artist, has said he does not believe the works by Picasso, Rembrandt, Andy Warhol and others, which he will lock away in a safe with a corrosive substance this Friday, will actually be destroyed.
...
Molodkin said he has gathered 16 works of art, which he estimates are collectively worth more than $45m. The works will be locked into a 29-tonne, 13ft by 9ft Swiss safe at Molodkins studio in the south of France. They will only be returned to their owners if Assange is released as a free man.
...
He explained that the artwork will be put into plywood crates alongside the dead mans switch a pneumatic pump connecting two barrels, one with acid powder and the other with an accelerator that could cause a chemical reaction strong enough to turn the safes contents to debris within two hours.
Each day will begin a 24-hour countdown that is only reset when someone close to Assange confirms his wellbeing.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/feb/13/im-not-trying-to-destroy-art-says-man-planning-to-do-just-that-if-assange-dies-in-jail
...
Molodkin said he has gathered 16 works of art, which he estimates are collectively worth more than $45m. The works will be locked into a 29-tonne, 13ft by 9ft Swiss safe at Molodkins studio in the south of France. They will only be returned to their owners if Assange is released as a free man.
...
He explained that the artwork will be put into plywood crates alongside the dead mans switch a pneumatic pump connecting two barrels, one with acid powder and the other with an accelerator that could cause a chemical reaction strong enough to turn the safes contents to debris within two hours.
Each day will begin a 24-hour countdown that is only reset when someone close to Assange confirms his wellbeing.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/feb/13/im-not-trying-to-destroy-art-says-man-planning-to-do-just-that-if-assange-dies-in-jail
Another report says:
The Russian dissident has refused to reveal which pieces of art are inside the safe but says it includes works by Picasso, Rembrandt, Warhol, Jasper Johns, Jannis Kounellis, Robert Rauschenberg, Sarah Lucas, Santiago Sierra, Jake Chapman, and Molodkin himself, among others.
...
Giampaolo Abbondio, who owns an art gallery in Milan, says he has provided the Picasso artwork for the safe and has signed a non-disclosure agreement preventing him from revealing which one.
...
Artist Franko B says he has provided one of the works which will be kept in the safe.
"It's a beautiful piece... it's one of my best pieces," he told Sky News.
https://news.sky.com/story/acid-to-destroy-masterpieces-by-picasso-rembrandt-and-warhol-if-julian-assange-dies-in-prison-artist-claims-13070078
...
Giampaolo Abbondio, who owns an art gallery in Milan, says he has provided the Picasso artwork for the safe and has signed a non-disclosure agreement preventing him from revealing which one.
...
Artist Franko B says he has provided one of the works which will be kept in the safe.
"It's a beautiful piece... it's one of my best pieces," he told Sky News.
https://news.sky.com/story/acid-to-destroy-masterpieces-by-picasso-rembrandt-and-warhol-if-julian-assange-dies-in-prison-artist-claims-13070078
So the "$45 million" could be BS. Schrodinger's Publicity Stunt?
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
6 replies, 1415 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (1)
ReplyReply to this post
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
![](du4img/smicon-reply-new.gif)
I'm not trying to destroy art, says man planning to do just that if Assange dies in jail (Original Post)
muriel_volestrangler
Feb 2024
OP
lapfog_1
(29,809 posts)1. it would be the same as $45M in $100 bills.
too f'ing bad.
what a moron.
Dave Bowman
(2,985 posts)2. He sounds like a cartoon Supervilain.
That guy is pathetic.
Wonder Why
(4,164 posts)3. Can I donate a painting from a "Starving Artist's Sale"? 😁
It's sad to destroy art as a threat but since the owners approve, that is their decision as they could do the same thing in an attempt to get Russia to release Americans jailed, Hamas hostages released, getting Texas to send their National Guard for humanitarian training, stop climate change or whatever.
JoseBalow
(4,270 posts)4. Didn't David Blaine do a similar stunt?
Does anyone actually believe this?
...signed a non-disclosure agreement preventing him from revealing which one.
![](https://i.imgflip.com/13wbkf.jpg)
Beastly Boy
(10,496 posts)5. Works every time.
Since 1973.
?fit=756%2C1000&ssl=1
Prof. Toru Tanaka
(2,191 posts)6. As long as the works of Sergio Aragones, Don Martin, Al Jaffee
and Dave Berg are not threatened, I am happy.