DAFEN INCORPORATED
There is a suspicion that on 21 May we have been in Paris rather than in Dafen. The connection between the
art theft last week and our project seemed too strong.
Unfortunately, we have to disappoint these expectations: we are not the thieves. But we have the paintings. We have the copies of the paintings. We now want to address the thieves in the hope that they want to develop and elaborate the art of art theft.
Dear thieves,
You have the originals – we have the copies. Let us collaborate: Through a large-scale press campaign we want to initiate an international treasure hunt, in the course of which both the originals and the copies will re-appear. Five paintings, five countries, five days time to find the paintings. All interested treasure hunters worldwide are invited to join the search. As soon as somebody finds a painting he should immediately contact us – we will then contact the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. All the findings will thus be gathered in Paris. We will also invite all the participants who found a painting – regardless if it is an original or a copy – to the vernissage of the exhibition of these paintings. We will pay for the finders’ travel and accommodation. We will furthermore ask the museum to postpone the examination of the paintings and thereby the distinction into originals and copies. Instead, we want the museum to exhibit originals and copies alongside each other in the long run. This way of exhibiting the paintings would not only do justice to the worldwide significance of copy art but would at the same time present the best form of art crime prevention, which is much more cost-effective than conventional security measures.
Dear thieves, we are waiting for a sign from you.
Our warmest regards
The MOST WANTED WORKS OF ART team
Unfortunately, we have to disappoint these expectations: we are not the thieves. But we have the paintings. We have the copies of the paintings. We now want to address the thieves in the hope that they want to develop and elaborate the art of art theft.
Dear thieves,
You have the originals – we have the copies. Let us collaborate: Through a large-scale press campaign we want to initiate an international treasure hunt, in the course of which both the originals and the copies will re-appear. Five paintings, five countries, five days time to find the paintings. All interested treasure hunters worldwide are invited to join the search. As soon as somebody finds a painting he should immediately contact us – we will then contact the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. All the findings will thus be gathered in Paris. We will also invite all the participants who found a painting – regardless if it is an original or a copy – to the vernissage of the exhibition of these paintings. We will pay for the finders’ travel and accommodation. We will furthermore ask the museum to postpone the examination of the paintings and thereby the distinction into originals and copies. Instead, we want the museum to exhibit originals and copies alongside each other in the long run. This way of exhibiting the paintings would not only do justice to the worldwide significance of copy art but would at the same time present the best form of art crime prevention, which is much more cost-effective than conventional security measures.
Dear thieves, we are waiting for a sign from you.
Our warmest regards
The MOST WANTED WORKS OF ART team