Cultural Security

Deposed Tunisian Dictator Linked to Looting…Again

The family of former Tunisian dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who has been accused of robbing the country of its cultural heritage through the looting of archaeological sites such as the ancient city of Carthage, faces prosecution yet again.

Ben Ali’s son-in-law, Sakher el-Materi, has been on trial in Tunisia since December for “trafficking in archaeological finds, illegal transfer of protected property, and possession of unregistered archaeological finds and excavation of mobile and fixed ruins without a license.” El-Materi has found sanctuary in Qatar, though he is being tried in absentia.

Among the 164 looted artifacts found in the former home of el-Materia and his wife, Nesrine Ben Ali, is a 700-plus-pound sculpture depicting the head of a Gorgon, a Greek mythological figure.

The marble statue, which was unearthed in 1930 during excavations conducted in the ancient city of Hippo Regius (modern Annaba, Algeria), was stolen from Algeria in 1996.

The Tunisian minister of culture confirmed that the “Gorgon’s Mask” will be returned to Algeria following the completion of legal proceedings against el-Materi.

As the inhabitants of Arab Spring countries continue their struggle for freedom from political and social tyranny, the region’s cultural heritage continues to suffer irreparable harm. The imminent return of the “Gorgon’s Mask” offers a glimmer of hope in the fight for cultural security in the embattled nations of North Africa and the Middle East. 

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Risk of Art Market Derivatives

The momentum of art sales, from record-breaking prices for masterworks to the opening of Western auction houses and galleries in China, has created a positive feedback loop that strengthens the security of art as an investment, but the expansion of the art market also has consequences for other facets of the art world.

How is the draw of art fairs in lucrative markets, such as in Asia, affecting smaller fairs? The announcement  to cancel the Santa Fe edition of the Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair (SOFA) suggests that the security of local arts culture may be at risk. Cancellation by European galleries, due to economic troubles in the EU, and the possibility that the fair may simply have run its course contribute to decreased participation in SOFA Santa Fe, but a shift in the function of art fairs may also be a factor. In the spectrum from art lovers to those seeking social advancement to investors, the balance may be shifting to the latter, and smaller fairs that depended on enthusiasm for art per se may not be able to compete.

Rising art prices also have an effect on the insurance industry. The vulnerability of artworks in museums and private collections to damage and theft affects insurance premiums, and the risk of forgeries on the market challenges valuation of artworks. Art as an investment, it turns out, creates another, less obvious risk. In the extreme case, investors store artworks in free ports to minimize taxation. Major free ports in nations such as Switzerland and Singapore, reportedly, hold an average of $10 billion in artworks. While protected against theft, the facilities are vulnerable to destruction, such as a plane crash or even a terrorist attack. The resulting risk assessments will require new strategies, and potentially higher premiums, for insurers to remain effective.

The culture of collecting is changing. Does the threat to smaller art fairs have implications for the long-term viability of the art market, or will changes in art insurance affect the burgeoning art market?

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Images via http://www.wethinkallday.com/2012/05/15-mind-blowing-works-of-art-at-15th.html

When Revolution Leads to Robbery and Death

In times of political chaos and uncertainty, thieves find a way to thrive. Egypt is no exception.

Nearly a year and a half after President Hosni Mubarak resigned amid protest from the populace, Egypt faces an ever-increasing threat to its cultural heritage.

Illegal excavations have become rampant across the country, many of which are focused upon treasured landmarks, such as the pyramids at Giza. According to the Egyptian Interior Ministry,  5697 illicit digs have been carried out since early 2011, one hundred times more than the previous year.

At least 35 people have lost their lives partaking in such illegal activities, including ten who were buried alive in March when the pit in which they were digging caved in. Countless others have been killed while protesting against police brutality and military rule.

As the country’s police and security forces sit idly by watching thieves and opportunists rob Egypt of its national heritage, who can the country and its people turn to for cultural security?

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(Source: yearof1989.wordpress.com)