Acid Threatens Warhol, Picasso, and Rembrandt in Response to Assange's Fate

February 14, 2024 Razvan Chiorean

contemporary art, protest

A Russian artist has announced a controversial plan to dissolve some of the world's most famous paintings with acid if WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange dies in prison. Andrei Molodkin has collected 16 artworks by Picasso, Rembrandt, Warhol and others, and locked them in a 29-tonne safe filled with a highly corrosive substance. He says the safe is rigged with a device that will trigger a chemical reaction and reduce the paintings to dust if Assange's heart stops beating. Molodkin claims his project is a protest against the censorship and oppression of free speech. He says he wants to challenge the value of art and the power of the state. He also hopes to raise awareness of Assange's plight and the importance of whistleblowing.

Assange is currently in a London prison, awaiting a decision on his extradition to the US, where he faces espionage charges for publishing classified documents. Molodkin's project has sparked outrage and criticism from the art world, as well as questions about the authenticity and legality of his actions. Some have accused him of vandalism, publicity stunt, and disrespect for the artists and their legacy. Others have praised him for his boldness, creativity, and political statement. Molodkin says he is ready to face the consequences of his project, and that he is not afraid of death or prison. He says he believes in the power of art to change the world.

Julian Assange, renowned as a producer and director, credited for works such as Mediastan (2013), Collateral Murder (2010), and Risk (2016)

Stella Assange, the wife of Julian Assange, supports the "Dead Man's Switch" project as her husband awaits his last appeal against extradition to the US. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is sought in the US for alleged conspiracy and violation of the Espionage Act related to leaked documents from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Currently held in London's Belmarsh prison for nearly five years, he denies all accusations. The final appeal is scheduled at the High Court in London on February 20 and 21, with supporters expressing concerns about a potential 175-year prison sentence upon extradition. Assange's lawyer asserts that his life is at risk if the appeal proves unsuccessful.

Molodkin said: "In our tumultuous era, rife with numerous wars, dismantling art has become a more significant taboo than compromising a person's life. Since Julian Assange's incarceration, there's a noticeable tightening of restrictions on freedom of expression, speech, and information—a sentiment I keenly feel." The Russian dissident hasn't disclosed the specific artworks within the safe, but he mentions a diverse collection including pieces by Picasso, Rembrandt, Warhol, Jasper Johns, Jannis Kounellis, Robert Rauschenberg, Sarah Lucas, Santiago Sierra, Jake Chapman, and Molodkin himself, among others.

Minimal art installation - Andrei Molodkin, a globally acclaimed contemporary Russian artist, actively deconstructs the economic realities inherent in geopolitical praxis. Photo: widewalls.ch

The verification of Julian Assange's well-being in prison will be undertaken by someone with close ties to him, ensuring the daily confirmation to reactivate the timer, according to Molodkin's plan. Should Assange be released, the art pieces will be promptly returned to their respective owners, as Molodkin assures. Acknowledging the anxiety among collectors regarding the potential accidental activation of the acid, Molodkin emphasizes the meticulous and professional execution of the safety measures. He expresses a lack of emotional attachment to the art, asserting that the paramount importance lies in preserving freedom.

Who is the controversial artist?

Andrei Molodkin gained attention for selling blood-soaked copies of Prince Harry's memoir and projecting a sculpture filled with Afghan blood onto St Paul's Cathedral. He also created provocative pieces like a World Cup trophy filling with crude oil, a White House sculpture with radioactive blood, and a portrait of Vladimir Putin filled with the blood of Ukrainian soldiers. Molodkin's exhibition "Catholic Blood" in 2013 featured a symbolic installation using blood donated by Catholics around a replica of the Rose Window at Westminster Abbey.

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