Fake!

Doug Fishbone to Hide a Forgery in the Dulwich Picture Gallery to Test Attendees

London-based contemporary American artist Doug Fishbone(below) is challenging attendees of South London’s Dulwich Picture Gallery to locate a forgery placed amongst the work of notable names such as Rubens, Titian and Gainsborough. As part of his latest Made in China project, Fishbone has commissioned China-based oil paint specialists Xiamen to recreate the piece; the forgery will replace the original masterpiece from February 3 through July 26 2015. For obvious reasons, it will remain unknown which piece has been recreated, however it will surely add an interesting dynamic to the ritualistic and almost institutional gallery visit.

Fishbone states in a recent talk with artnet News, “I’m hoping that it will encourage people to look with much greater focus and with a heightened sense of awareness at the actual artworks. When you walk into a collection with a large amount of paintings, it’s very easy to gloss over everything quickly and to take it all in as a kind of vista.”

DAVID NEWTON