Books
Shining a Black Light on Art Forgery
María Gainza's novel dives into art-world forgery and false identities amid Argentina's politics of the 1960s.
Art Crime
In Brief
Oh, Crap! Thieves Swipe Solid Gold Toilet Worth $6M
Maurizio Cattelan's golden throne was stolen from the Blenheim Art Foundation.
Film
Short on Substance, The Goldfinch Falters on Screen
The adaptation of Donna Tartt's bestseller sacrifices its nuances to fit in all of its plot points.
Books
An Art Forgery Thriller With Many Narrators but Not Enough Answers
Author Clare Clark's In the Full Light of the Sun raises important questions about the lengths we go to distract ourselves from governmental horrors, and how art can’t save us, but it doesn't manage to find easy answers.
Art
A Memorial to Crimes Against Women and Children in Ghostly Glass
Northern Irish artist Alison Lowry addresses the 200 years of crimes perpetrated by the Catholic Church in collaboration with the Irish state.
In Brief
The Charges Against a Notorious Suspected Smuggler of Indian Artifacts
Last month, Subhash Kapoor was charged with 86 felony counts for allegedly looting $145 million in antiquities over the last 50 years. This month, his former clients continue to reel from the revelations as more stolen artifacts are returned.
In Brief
18,000 Illegally Trafficked Cultural Goods Seized in an International Crackdown
Operation Pandora III, carried out by the Spanish Civil Guard, Europol, Interpol, and the World Customs Organization, included a special focus on illicit online trafficking. 59 individuals were arrested in the operation.
Art
Thrillers and Epic Crime Movies to Stream This Month
From one of the most meticulous heist movies ever made to the most important true crime film.
Interview
A Comics Convention Sets the Stage for a Layered Crime Story
Acclaimed writer Ed Brubaker talks to Hyperallergic about his new book Bad Weekend, the historical poor treatment of comics creators, and the differences between writing for comics and film.
Art
How Social Media is Allowing for Illegal Antiquities Trafficking
The Antiquities Trafficking and Heritage Anthropology Research (ATHAR) Project has published a critical report on West Asian antiquities trafficking taking place more or less out in the open on Facebook.
Film
Ava DuVernay's When They See Us Is a Brutal Look at a 30-Year-Old Injustice
The new Netflix miniseries joins an ongoing cultural conversation over the case of the Central Park Five.
In Brief
Chinese Officials Seize Mao Zedong Bust Filled With Narcotics
Police arrested three people on suspicion of trafficking more than $150,000 worth of drugs, some of which was hidden inside the Communist leader's noggin.