Latest news with #Artnet
Hypebeast
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Maurizio Cattelan Can't Keep a Banana on the Wall
Summary It was only a matter of time before someone took another Cattelan's infamous banana artwork 'The Comedian' has once again been consumed and this time at the Centre Pompidou-Metz in eastern France. The fruit, taped to a wall as part of the museum's current exhibitionEndless Sunday, was swiftly devoured by a visitor over the weekend. Security responded quickly. Within minutes, the banana was replaced, business as usual. Artnet reported: 'In a characteristically tongue-and-cheek retort, the Italian artist-provocateur said he was disappointed the banana muncher did not also consume the work's skin and tape. The museum-goer, Cattelan noted, had clearly 'confused the fruit for the work of art' and hadn't gone far enough.' Since its debut at Art Basel Miami in 2019, 'The Comedian' has sparked debate, confusion and no shortage of social media engagement. Originally sold for up to $150,000 USD with a certificate of authenticity, the piece has since been eaten multiple times from a viral act by artist David Datuna in Miami to a hungry student at Seoul's Leeum Museum in 2023. Despite the drama, institutions remain unfazed. The banana, after all, comes with clear replacement instructions. According to the Pompidou-Metz, the work will continue to hang until the exhibition ends in 2027. Centre Pompidou-Metz1 Parv. des Droits de l'HommeCS 90490, 57000Metz, France
Ammon
05-07-2025
- Science
- Ammon
Largest Martian rock ever found on Earth is estimated to fetch $4 million at auction
Ammon News - As rare as Cinderella's glass slippers, the largest known piece of Mars on Earth is about to go under the hammer. The Martian rock, unlike the fabled footwear, is entirely acquirable. Sotheby's will play fairy godmother, though you'll need about $4 million to make the magic happen. This 54-pound piece will go home with the highest bidder on July 16 during a Sotheby's New York auction. Called NWA 16788, the specimen is nearly the size of a car tire and will feature in the auction house's natural-history sale. This discovery is historic because previous Martian finds on Earth have been far smaller fragments. 'NWA' stands for Northwest Africa; the reddish-brown stone was unearthed in July 2023 by a meteorite hunter in Niger's Kefkafa region. After extensive testing, including a trip to the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, it was formally classified as a shergottite meteorite in July 2024. One doesn't need to be a science buff to appreciate its significance. The rock is rich in magnesium, while iron is concentrated along its edges, according to Artnet. Fascinatingly, segments of the meteorite contain glass formed when it was blasted off Mars and scorched through Earth's atmosphere before landing in Niger's Sahara Desert. Weighing nearly 25 kg, its epic journey alone helps justify the projected $4 million price tag. 'Its immense size and unmistakable red color set it apart as a once-in-a-generation find,' said Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman of science and natural history at Sotheby's. 'This remarkable meteorite provides a tangible connection to the red planet, our celestial neighbor that has long captured the human imagination.' A couple of years ago, a 30-pound lunar rock came to market for $2.5 million, and with this specimen tipping the scales at 54 pounds, it could easily surpass that estimate. Luxury Launches
IOL News
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
A cheeky condom from the 1800s steals the show at an Amsterdam museum
A rare condom dating from 1830 featuring an erotic print of a nun and three clergymen in provocative poses that went on display at the Rijksmuseum as part of an exhibit on 19th century prostitution and sexuality. It's an illustration that would be racy even by today's standards: A nun points her finger at a trio of clergymen, who raise their robes to reveal their aroused state. Her bare legs are splayed open, in a bizarre and humorous exchange. If that wasn't risqué enough, the drawing was printed on a condom nearly 200 years ago and is thought to have been circulated as a brothel souvenir. Likely made from a sheep's appendix, the early contraceptive is also inscribed with the words 'Voilà mon choix,' or 'This is my choice' - a tongue-in-cheek jab at celibacy. The yellowed, crinkled condom made its debut on Tuesday at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Perched on a tiny stand, it rests among other relics depicting 19th-century prostitution and sexuality in the museum's print room, which is dedicated to drawings and photographs across various media. 'Only two such objects are known to have survived to the present day,' the Rijksmuseum said in a release. 'It reveals that printing was being used in a wide range of contexts.' Curious readers can get a closer, possibly not-safe-for-work look here. The origin of the condom - or its derivatives - might date to around 3000 BC, when it was written that the mythological character King Minos of Crete protected his wife from the 'serpents and scorpions' in his semen by inserting a goat's bladder into her vagina before intercourse. It was said that Minos's mistress had died after having intercourse with him, leading him to seek further protection from disease. Other interpretations of the story suggest that Minos wore the goat's bladder himself. Some argue that condoms made from animal intestines have existed since at least the medieval age. In a lecture about the history of condoms, researcher Kate Stephenson said that the earliest evidence of condom use that she found was from 1564, when an Italian anatomist wrote about men using linen cloth made to fit over the penis. Another scholar documented similar methods a few years later, she added. The 1830 condom on display in the Netherlands 'embodies both the lighter and darker sides of sexual health, in an era when the quest for sensual pleasure was fraught with fears of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases - especially syphilis,' the Rijksmuseum wrote. Close-up photos on the museum's website show the intricate, etching-like nature of the drawing printed upon it. The museum says its inscription is also a parody of the Judgment of Paris, a Greek myth that tells of the Trojan prince choosing which of three goddesses - Aphrodite, Athena and Hera - is the most beautiful. Rijksmuseum curators purchased the condom six months ago at an auction. There were no other bidders, according to Artnet. The condom will be on display until the end of November, the museum said.
Hypebeast
02-06-2025
- Business
- Hypebeast
Young Asian Artists Are Facing a Market Slowdown
Summary Auction sales for young Asian artists born in the 1990s have dropped to their lowest level in three years, according toThe Asia Pivotby Artnet. Total sales fell to $9.7 million USD in 2024, with average prices down 26 percent to $13,905 USD per work. The segment which was once seen as a fast-rising part of the market is now slowing. Artists who previously led the pack are seeing sharp declines. Anna Park, who brought in $1.67 million USD in 2023, did not make the top 10 this year. Raghav Babbar's average prices were cut nearly in half, despite most of his works still finding buyers. Artnet points to a wider downturn across ultra-contemporary art. Fewer works are being sold, and those that do sell are often going for less. However, a few names continue to perform well. Yukimasa Ida from Japan remained among the top three. Sun Yitian from China ranked first in 2024 after her painting Prologue sold for $415,000 USD. Women artists made up nearly half of the top 50, with many based internationally. The data suggests a market that is changing, with more global representation. China and Japan still account for most of the top-performing artists. Although the post-pandemic excitement around this group has cooled, these artists continue to reflect larger shifts in the market and are likely to influence future trends.
Hypebeast
27-05-2025
- Business
- Hypebeast
Artnet to Go Private Following Beowolff Buyout of $65 Million USD
Summary Beowolff Capitalhas announced a $65 million USD deal to acquireArtnet, with plans to take the company private. The investment firm has already secured65% of Artnet's share capitaland is offering €11.25 per share to the remaining shareholders, representing a 97% premium over the company's closing price on March 3, the last trading day before rumors of the takeover surfaced. As part of the deal, Beowolff will purchase a 29.99% stake from Weng Fine Art AG for nearly €20 million, effectively ending a years-long power struggle between Artnet and the German art investment firm. The transaction is scheduled to close on May 30, 2025. Beowolff's acquisition of Artnet follows its recent purchase ofArtsy, signaling a broader strategy to dominate the digital art landscape. The firm intends to create a connected ecosystem of art platforms powered by shared AI tools, designed to streamline transactions, improve data access and boost market transparency. Despite the ownership change, Artnet will continue to operate as usual, retaining its leadership team, product offerings and editorial arm, Artnet News. Beowolff says it sees long-term value in Artnet's global reach and credibility as a marketplace and information hub for the art world
