The Shchukin Gallery, which sells Russian art in Paris and New York, is suing a Russian oligarch for damages and attorney fees of $950 million — in what might or might not be the culmination of an unusually tangled legal battle over three paintings by Kazimir Malevich and two by Natalia Goncharova that were, as Shchukin's attorney puts it,...
"After laying off 25% of its full-time staff, including those who had been there since opening day," the only Western European satellite of the St. Petersburg institution "finally reached the bottom of its reserves last month. Because the Hermitage is a private institution ineligible for government aid, it is now calling for one million euros in donations...
It is Turrell’s most ambitious project, but also his most personal. He has spent 45 years designing a series of tunnels and chambers inside to capture celestial light. Yet Turrell has rarely allowed anyone to visit the work in progress. Known as Roden Crater, it stands 580 feet tall and nearly two miles wide. One of the tunnels that...
"The Legacy Restoration Trust … was set up by Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments, the Edo State government and the royal court of Benin to plan and build the Edo Museum of West African Art in Benin City. … Designed by David Adjaye, the museum will house artefacts from the kingdom of Benin, which British troops invaded...
"After being stolen more than 30 years ago from a village in Italy's Tuscany region, a group of stolen medieval artifacts has been located by police in the home of an antiques collector in Sicily. In that house near Catania, the police discovered a pilfered reliquary that dates back to the 13th century, as well as other objects including...
‘We believe in a polyphonic time. Essentially the problem has been about dominant narratives and to get a much wider perspective. It is appropriate today that it is less about a single authorial model and more a collaborative research endeavour. Everything in the world at the moment is leaning towards learning from each other and bring together different expertise...
A team of applied mathematics specialists at Harvard spent three years of calculations and trial-and-error to design a lightweight plastic structure that's about the size of a twin mattress when folded but quickly inflates to a stable 8'x8'x8' octagonal structure — relatively easy to transport in large numbers and quick to erect. - Wired
"Plans for a major renovation project to the western entrance of the Acropolis have met with strong opposition from archaeologists in Greece and across the world. In an open letter to the public, the signatories, including figures from the universities of Oxford, Durham and Brown, called for the cancellation of a project they believe will lead to the 'devaluation,...
According to the museum, an unknown person “protected” the Cosimo II artwork before it was plastered over. “Maybe this unknown savior wanted it to be preserved for the future generations,” the spokesperson said. “Obviously our researchers are already trying to figure out the story behind this.” - Artnet
Over the past seven years, "this scandal — now known as 'the Ruffini affair' — has engulfed figures ranging from curators at the Louvre to leading auction-house executives. It has also given rise to an endless litany of conflicting and sometimes changing opinions, both technical and connoisseurial. … Now, he has decided to tell his side of the story."...
The repeated, record-setting acqua alta events of late 2019 caused an estimated €300 million in damage to the Byzantine-style landmark — and floods are expected to get more frequent and severe as sea level rises. What's more, the long-delayed MOSE floodgates in the Venice lagoon aren't enough to protect St. Mark's, which lies at one of the lowest points...
Last July, after a tenure that had been widely viewed (at least from outside) as a major success, Nathalie Bondil was dismissed from the Montreal museum amid allegations that she created a "toxic" work environment. Now she's returning to France to become director of exhibitions and collections at the Institut du Monde Arabe. - ARTnews
"Without long insights into the early diversity programs, our profession cannot address the structural inequities that perpetuate the need for entry-level opportunities targeted for non-white individuals. Museums must acknowledge the stigmatizing, tokenizing, and economic effects of these programs, in addition to the opportunities they offer." - Hyperallergic
And visitors who have been in lockdown number ... infinity? ... and have been absolutely starved for art are more than happy to be in the galleries, masked, in person. - The Guardian (UK)
Protests have been going on outside the museum for the last three weeks. "These protests, called 'pop-up deoccupations' in the activists’ parlance — have so far been tame, focusing on 'speakouts' and performances while keeping a measured distance from the museum’s entrance. But this might change next Friday, April 30, as the activists plan to escalate their protests and bring them...
