Meet the World's Greatest Art Prankster
A funny link
by HenryHarveyComedyGod  448  8
01/24/2011 09:23 PM 2052 views
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"Father" Arthur Scott, art forger extraordinaire (artist's rendering).
You might have pulled a few pranks. Maybe you've pranked your neighbor, your brother-in-law, or that fat guy at work that keeps stealing your food out of the refrigerator.
But do you think you could convince dozens of prestigious art museums to accept your fake paintings for twenty years, without being caught? Meet the guy who did.
For years, Mark A. Landis has been showing up at art museums under various disguises, including "Father Arthur Scott," a Jesuit priest. He generously donates paintings in the memory of his dearly departed mother. The museums greedily accept the gifts -- after all, who wouldn't trust a friendly priest? (Unless, of course, you were an altar boy on an overnight trip.)
But upon closer inspection under ultraviolet light, many of the museums have discovered they are only reproductions that have been skillfully painted over -- by Landis himself.
Nobody knows how many museums he has defrauded. Who wants to admit they've been art-punked big time?
Fake Paul Signac watercolor, painted by Landis
A real Signac watercolor
The weird thing is, unlike most forgers, Landis doesn't do it for money. He does it, apparently, for the love of the prank.
And since he doesn't take any money, or even claim any tax deduction, he hasn't broken any laws and the authorities can't charge him with anything.
The Hilliard University Art Museum in Louisiana is even honoring him in a special exhibit called "Say it Isn't Faux!"
Fake Charles Courtney Curran, painted by Landis
The real thing
The tell-tale pixelated pattern underneath the painting, suggesting he printed out a digital photo, then painted over it (or that the artist Curran invented the printer)
In a world where so many artists struggle to be noticed, it's refreshing to see one artist work to remain unnoticed, quietly pranking the so-called "experts," not to mention thousands of patrons in the museums where his works are displayed.
Paint on, Mark A. Landis. Paint on.
And now the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/arts/design/12fraud.html
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Like This? Rate It!
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Hilarious
7 votes
4.3
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Chuckleworthy
5 votes
2.6
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Thud 68,525  19
01/24/2011 09:28 PM
Nice prank + seriously ugly perv-looking prankster = which old-timey Gabber is this?
Is this the way Chickens actually looks?
Did Whistler shave his head?
Trixxie bang one too many altar boys and started to believe he is a priest?
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Funny
4 votes
3.0
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Kristie 32 4
01/25/2011 11:12 AM
His paintings look like obvious fakes. Landis' real talent is managing to find the cross-eyed curators each and every time.
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Chuckleworthy
3 votes
2.3
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Johnny Plankton 4,102 27
01/25/2011 02:28 PM
I always wondered what happened to Dwight D. Eisenhower after he stopped being president. Nice second career.
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Amusing
1 votes
1.0
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WhyMi? 3,549 12
01/25/2011 06:08 PM
His paintings look like obvious fakes. Landis' real talent is managing to find the cross-eyed curators each and every time.
I concur (and orbed you for the observation)
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