For his new project co-curated by Dr Xavier Bray at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, London-based artist Doug Fishbone has commissioned a Chinese artists’ workshop from the Fujian region to produce an exact replica of an undisclosed Old Master painting from the collection, which will replace the original in its frame in the galley for three months.
From 10 February to 26 April, the public and art experts will be invited to try and spot the fake among the 270 works in the collection, which includes works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Tiepolo, Murillo and Poussin; the replica will be revealed on 28 April, and will consequently be exhibited alongside its original until 26 July.
Beside the playful aspect of the project characteristic of Fishbone’s practice (see for example his most recent Booze Cruises on River Thames), this project raises larger issues regarding the attribution of value, identity and authorship of a work according on its context of presentation, while drawing attention to the massive export market for copies, mostly produced in China, where villages such as Dafen are responsible for more than 5 million replicas every year.
Made in China: A Doug Fishbone Project will run from 10 February to 26 July.
13 January 2015
