Summary The Artist Holding Valuable Art Hostage to Protect Julian Assange | The New Yorker www.newyorker.com
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One Line
Andrei Molodkin's threat to destroy art if Julian Assange dies sparks debate on authenticity and legal implications, ultimately gaining approval.
Slides
Slide Presentation (8 slides)
Key Points
- Russian artist Andrei Molodkin announced the Dead Man's Switch project to destroy valuable art if Julian Assange dies in prison
- Molodkin acquired a 32-ton Swiss bank safe to house the art, including works by Picasso, Rembrandt, Warhol, and contemporary pieces
- The project aims to draw attention to Assange's plight and the dangers he faces if extradited to the United States
- Stella Assange, Julian's wife, expressed concern for his safety and approved of the project as a way to raise awareness
- Molodkin has a history of using shock tactics in his art to rebel against political corruption and violence
Summaries
18 word summary
Andrei Molodkin will destroy art if Julian Assange dies, sparking debate about authenticity and legal implications, gaining approval.
61 word summary
Russian artist Andrei Molodkin plans to destroy valuable art in a 32-ton Swiss bank safe if Julian Assange dies in prison, gaining approval from Stella Assange and WikiLeaks members. The project has sparked debate about the art's authenticity and legal implications, with some criticizing it as a stunt. Molodkin remains committed and has sought hostage negotiators to communicate with U.S. officials.
127 word summary
Russian artist Andrei Molodkin plans to destroy valuable art in a 32-ton Swiss bank safe if Julian Assange dies in prison, aiming to draw attention to Assange's situation. Molodkin met with Stella Assange and WikiLeaks members, gaining approval for the project. The artist has a history of using shock tactics in his art to protest political corruption and violence, and has received support from other artists and collectors. The project has sparked debate about the authenticity of the art and its legal implications, with some criticizing it as a stunt. Molodkin remains committed to the project and has sought professional hostage negotiators to communicate with U.S. officials. Despite potential destruction, local officials support the project, which is scheduled to go live on YouTube during Assange's court hearing.
300 word summary
Andrei Molodkin, a Russian artist, has announced a project called Dead Man's Switch, in which he will destroy valuable art if Julian Assange dies in prison. Molodkin has acquired a 32-ton Swiss bank safe to house the art, which includes works by Picasso, Rembrandt, and Warhol, as well as contemporary pieces. The project is intended to draw attention to Assange's plight and the dangers he faces if extradited to the United States.
Molodkin met with Stella Assange and members of WikiLeaks to discuss the project. Stella Assange expressed concern for her husband's safety and approved of Dead Man's Switch as a way to draw attention to his situation. The project is part of a larger trend of holding valuable art hostage for ideological purposes, as seen with environmental activist group Just Stop Oil vandalizing paintings in museums.
Molodkin has a history of using shock tactics in his art to rebel against political corruption and violence. He has worked with materials such as crude oil and human blood and has made statements against Russian political actions. His project has received support from other artists and collectors who have donated works to be housed in the safe.
The project has raised questions about the authenticity of the art in the safe and the legal implications of destroying it. Some have criticized the project as a stunt or questioned its artistic merit. However, Molodkin remains committed to the project and has sought professional hostage negotiators to communicate with U.S. officials about Assange's situation.
The presence of valuable art in a small mountain town has been met with enthusiasm by local officials, despite the potential for the art to be destroyed. The project is scheduled to go live on YouTube during Assange's court hearing, with live streams from cameras inside and outside the safe.