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At least 1,000 of Damien Hirst’s The Currency paintings, which were marketed as being created in 2016, were actually produced in 2018 and 2019, as revealed by sources involved in the project. These artworks, which feature colorful hand-painted dots on A4 paper, were sold in 2021 along with NFTs, with Hirst and the authorized seller, Heni, claiming they were made in 2016. Despite lawyers for Hirst arguing that dating works by the project’s conception year is his standard practice, this revelation has raised concerns about the authenticity of the dates. The Currency project, which involves 10,000 paintings, aimed to merge art and financial concepts, leading to a highly publicized event where buyers chose between keeping the physical painting or its NFT equivalent. The project’s initial sale brought in about $18 million, but the discrepancy in the creation dates are leading to questions about the trust and integrity of Hirst’s work.
Airbnb has partnered with ChargePoint to offer hosts discounted EV charging packages, including hardware, installation, and support, through a new online store. Hosts can save up to 36 percent on select ChargePoint models, with prices starting at $399. The first 1,000 purchasers receive an additional $200 earlybird discount from Airbnb. Listings with EV chargers tend to attract more guests and generate higher income as searches for rentals with charging equipment have increased by more than 80 percent from 2022 to 2023.
Fotografiska New York will close its Park Avenue South location on September 29 as it seeks a new venue due to space limitations that hinder larger exhibitions. Despite hosting 48 shows over five years, including the first full U.S. retrospective of David LaChapelle and Andres Serrano’s “Infamous” series, the 42,000-square-foot space location offers only 7,600 square feet of exhibition space with nine-foot ceilings, limiting its potential. The restaurant and bar will close to the public in mid-June but will remain available for member events and private rentals. The museum plans to continue its programming through partnerships and pop-ups, starting with an exhibition on a century of New York City nightlife, and aims to confirm a new site next year.
A Tennessee judge deferred ruling on the attempted sale of Graceland, maintaining a temporary injunction against auctioning Elvis Presley’s former home. The actress Riley Keough, Elvis’s granddaughter, sued to stop what her lawyers described as a fraudulent effort by Naussany Investments, which claimed Lisa Marie Presley used Graceland as collateral for a $3.8 million loan before her death. The judge delayed the case for further evidence, while Naussany Investments purportedly withdrew its claim. Graceland officials affirmed the property would not be foreclosed and would continue operations as usual.
For the first time, daily marijuana use in the United States has surpassed daily alcohol consumption, with 17.7 million people using marijuana daily or near-daily in 2022 compared to 14.7 million daily drinkers according to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. This shift reflects the increasing mainstream acceptance and legalization of recreational marijuana in nearly half of the states. According to experts, the numbers raise some concerns about addiction and cannabis-associated psychosis.
Billie Eilish has been striving for a more sustainable rollout of her new album.
Rescue dogs and cats are modeling Ikea’s latest collection of pet essentials.
This 1,000-page math proof is so complex that almost no one can explain it.
Joseph Walsh crafts a bentwood conductor’s rail for Louisville’s Orchestra.
