The Creators Project: Before ITP graduate student Ziv Schneider created the Oculus Rift-accessible Museum of Stolen Art, halfway across the world another institution—also called the Museum of Stolen Art—was debuting its gallery exhibition of works currently reported stolen or missing. Works could be viewed through the screen of a tablet or phone.
3 comments:
Wow. That is incredibly interesting. Art theft is arguably worse than any other kind of theft because unlike most objects, Art is irreplaceable. It breaks my heart to know that there are masterpieces that have vanished because someone thought that that priceless artifact would look better in theirs or someone else's private collection. That being said, this is a beautiful way of commemorating the lost pieces. Rather than simply trying to represent what has been lost, the exhibit seems to emphasize the loss. It's very evocative to walk into a gallery and not see a single painting. I also think that the use of technology creates an intriguing juxtaposition, replacing the old with the new, but in an arguably hollow and unsubstantial way. I am very impressed at the artist's ability to both give a full and complete experience of the missing art, while reminding us that no matter how much technology advances, the art that has been lost can't every really be replaced.
Oh wow, this is exceptionally cool. Around 1990, in Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardiner museum, priceless works of art were stolen by thieves dressed as museum guards. Today, the frames remain, empty of the works of Rembrandt and the like. To see the bits of canvas where the perpetrators cut the paintings out of their frames is a breath-taking experience, and not in a good way. Seeing this museum filled with pieces of art that have been ripped from the world's collections makes me tear up. Art theft is cruel. While it may seem like a victimless crime, you are essentially robbing the public from experience the art for themselves. The feeling of loss you get from walking into the Gardiner museum and seeing someone's 'artistic' violence is enough to move people to tears. Allowing people to visit these lost works is so important. Of course, my phone screen won't be as authentic as seeing the painting up close and personal, but it's close.
I love the idea of this exhibit, its not only an interesting way to look at art that has been lost but an experience to help one really consider the consequences of art thefts. I’m sure the people in this exhibit have great appreciation for the art they see through the interface on their tablets and phones, but I’ sure there is an even greater effect on the viewers when they realize that the pieces of artwork they’re looking at may still exist but they’re lost and therefore present blindness to the public eye. Looking at the paintings through the interface its like walking into an art gallery and seeing each work of art in its full detail, but the reality of empty frames is what makes this exhibit interesting. I’ve seen interfaces like this used before to create augmented images/objects that appear to be existent in our own world, the effect of the technology when well utilized is astounding, I’d love to see it used more for other works of art/art appreciation, maybe in theater someday.
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