Art
The art collection of the British Rail Pension Fund
Fine art and British Rail may not seem like they have much in common, but for several decades British Rail, through its pension fund, was a major player in the world of fine art. From theNY Times (Apr 5, 1989):
The pension fund began selling its art in 1986, and sold the last of it in 2003.
The Wall Street Journal reported in 1996 that the pension fund made a return of 13.1% per year on its art. Which doesn't seem bad at all. However, its stock portfolio, during the same period, returned 22% a year.
If you're looking for a coffee-table curiosity, there are several books dedicated to the artwork owned by the British Rail pension fund.
More info: "When a railway fund started buying paintings"
Posted By: Alex - Fri Sep 20, 2024 -
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Category: Art, Money, Collectors
Subversive Coca-Cola Bottles
In 1965, thousands of sealed Coca-Cola bottles containing "subversive bulletins" were found floating off the coast of the Northern Celebes.
Miami Herald - July 30, 1965
I can't find any information about who was responsible for this strange act of subversion. But it recalls a later subversive use of Coca-Cola bottles by the Brazilian artist Cildo Meireles.
It was during the 1970s when used glass bottles would be returned and refilled. Meireles would modify the bottles before returning them by adding white text on the side showing messages such as "Yankees Go Home" or instructions for turning the bottle into a Molotov cocktail.
More info: Beach Branding and Packaging Design
Posted By: Alex - Sat Sep 07, 2024 -
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Category: Art, Soda, Pop, Soft Drinks and other Non-Alcoholic Beverages, 1960s, 1970s
New Hoover Deluxe Shampoo Polishers
Jeff Koons's 1987 "sculpture" is titled "New Hoover Deluxe Shampoo Polishers, New Shelton Wet/Dry 5-Gallon Displaced Quadradecker." It consists of a stack of six shampoo polishers and one wet/dry vacuum.I wonder if the work was inspired in any way by the persistent weird news theme of 'art mistaken as trash.' Instead of art that resembles trash, Koons imagined cleaning supplies as art.
Yeah, I'm probably overthinking this.
New Hoover Deluxe Shampoo Polishers, New Shelton Wet/Dry 5-Gallon Displaced Quadradecker
image source: wikiart
Posted By: Alex - Mon Aug 12, 2024 -
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Category: Art, 1980s
Follies of the Madmen #602
Posted By: Paul - Fri Aug 09, 2024 -
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Category: Art, Domestic, Hygiene, Advertising, Historical Figure, 1960s
Artwork Khrushchev Probably Would Not Have Liked 57
Posted By: Paul - Thu Aug 01, 2024 -
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Category: Art, Avant Garde, Statues and Monuments, 1940s, Women
The Necco Garden
This entry courtesy of Sherry Mowbray.The creator's Wikipedia page.
Source of text and photos.
Another source reveals:
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jul 31, 2024 -
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Category: Art, Avant Garde, Candy, Reader Recommendation, 1980s, North America
Aki Sasamoto: Delicate Cycle
The creator's Wikipedia page.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 25, 2024 -
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Category: Art, Performance Art, Hygiene, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Asia
Weird Masks by Damselfrau
The creator's home page.
An interview, plus more pics.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jul 17, 2024 -
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Category: Art, Costumes and Masks, Europe
Jim’s Guide to San Francisco
In 1977, artist James Patrick Finnegan published an oddball guide to San Francisco, titled Jim's Guide to San Francisco. It consisted of pictures of him posing in front of San Francisco businesses that were named Jim: Jim's Barber Shop, Jim's Donut Shop, Jim's Transportation, Jim's Smoke Shop, etc.The book was printed in black-and-white, but he handcolored parts of it with a crayon. I assume he individually handcolored each copy sold.
I haven't been able to find any scanned copies of the book online, and only one copy of it for sale. The seller is asking $300, justifying that price by the book's rarity.
It's been almost 50 years since the book came out, so Finnegan should do an updated guide. I'm sure there's now a whole new batch of businesses in the city named Jim.
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jun 28, 2024 -
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Category: Art, Books, Tourists and Tourism, 1970s
Paint your own modern abstracts
True magazine - Jan 1969
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jun 27, 2024 -
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Category: Art, Advertising, 1960s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |