Category: visual

“New works by the elusive illustrator have been popping up around the city to coincide with the third anniversary of the natural disaster, which killed more than 1800 people as it swept across the US Gulf Coast.”

When Banksy offered one of his highly sought-after canvases to Britain’s Labour Party to auction for Ken Livingstone’s ill-fated re-election campaign, the party’s high command was jubilant. Then they realized that the true identity of the artist would have to be declared under the law. And that was a deal breaker…

Two Titians might leave the UK if they are sold at auction. The owners want £100 million for them. ” If the paintings are not secured by the galleries, it is likely that they will be lost to the British viewing public and head overseas to richer galleries. Worse still, they could end up hanging in the hallway of a plutocrat’s mansion, hidden from view. They have only been on display in the National Galleries in London and Scotland for so long because of a loan deal agreed in 1945.”

A sculpture in northern Italy depicting a crucified green frog holding a beer mug and an egg could be soon removed from display after Pope Benedict condemned it as blasphemous.

“In the last two decades, Japan’s visual artists have become as prominent as its scientists, and its designers as respected as its businessmen. But local curatorial talents have never stood out on the world stage.”

“Professional looting has ended, although just like anywhere in the world there may be some occasional digging by children. Religious leaders have issued fatwas against damaging our heritage. Guards with proper facilities are protecting sites. Iraqi archaeologists have resumed excavating, which means the sites are better monitored.”

The figure represents one third of their estimated open market value, but why is it so important to save the works for the nation, and how difficult will it be to raise the cash? National Gallery of Scotland director John Leighton: “I think it would be hard to exaggerate the misfortune it would be. In our terms it would be like the Mona Lisa being taking out of the Louvre, or the Uffizi gallery in Florence losing its Botticellis,”

“Now seen in its full glory, his building turns out to be a masterpiece of late Modernism, one that will force many to reappraise an entire period of Modernist history and put Rudolph back on the pedestal where he belongs.”

Russia’s Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow’s largest collection of Russian art, said it has begun talks with the city government to build a new space for its modern and contemporary art collection.

London’s National Gallery and the National Galleries of Scotland seek to buy a Titian painting for 50 million pounds ($92 million) as part of a plan that would allow the U.K. to continue showing the most important private collection of Old Masters on loan to the nation.