Blake Gopnik's book "The Maverick's Museum: Albert Barnes and His American Dream" explores the life of art collector Albert Barnes, who was known for his belligerent behavior. The book delves into the stories surrounding Barnes' actions, making it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. Barnes' legacy is complex, with some of his paintings of Klansmen remaining controversial today due to their depiction of racism, yet still being considered "deeply relevant" by his daughter Musa Mayer.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/03/11/he-could-be-grotesquely-wildly-intemperate-biographer-blake-gopnik-tells-us-about-the-great-collector-albert-c-barnesThe German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has clarified its stance on copyright law, stating that originality should be evaluated objectively and uniformly based on the specific work submitted. The court disagrees with the European Court of Justice's "Cofemel" decision, which suggested stricter requirements for works of applied art. According to the BGH, subjective views of the author's creative intention or awareness of free decisions are not relevant in determining originality. Instead, the focus is on whether the result of the creative process constitutes an artistic achievement. The court also emphasized that Birkenstock's iconic sandals, despite their global recognition for design and comfort, do not qualify for copyright protection as they began with a task rather than an idea.
https://natlawreview.com/article/no-copyright-protection-birkenstock-sandals-significant-decision-german-federalThe Supreme Court has ruled that a painting by Camille Pissarro's "Rue Saint-Honoré in the Afternoon, Effect of Rain" should be reconsidered under a California law aimed at strengthening Holocaust survivors' claims to recover stolen art. The painting, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, was once owned by Lilly Cassirer Neubauer, who surrendered it to the Nazis to secure visas for herself and her husband. It has since changed hands several times, including being bought by Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza in 1976, before being sold to a Spanish museum in the 1990s.
https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-nazi-painting-madrid-museum-cbf646c950b61f36c789325ced2ad468The Art Newspaper is publishing a monograph on Peter Joseph, coinciding with an exhibition in London showcasing his work from 1964 to 1978. The book is part of the "Peter Joseph: The Early Works" exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery, curated by Barnaby Wright.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/03/11/march-book-bag-from-a-compilation-of-artist-love-stories-to-a-polemic-questioning-morality-in-artThe Korea Heritage Service has reported the theft of the doors from Choi Jinsa Old House in Geochang County, where a Shin Yun-bok painting had gone missing for over three years. This incident marks a significant development as it is the first time a national treasure designation has been canceled due to lack of objections, following previous re-evaluations that led to the delisting of other cultural assets.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-03-11/culture/koreanHeritage/Heritage-status-of-Joseon-Dynasty-document-set-to-be-canceled-after-stolen-property-revelation/2259491Dua Lipa collaborated with Blackpink singer Jennie on her new solo track Handlebars, released as part of Jennie's first solo album Ruby. The music video features Dua and Jennie showcasing their dance moves in glamorous outfits adorned with Tiffany & Co. jewellery worth over £52,000. The duo performed in front of screens with futuristic special effects, including shards of glass, stars, and water droplets. Jennie launched her own music label, Odd Atelier, for her solo projects, which also features collaborations with Childish Gambino, Doechii, Dominic Fike, and FKJ.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14486217/Dua-Lipa-jewels-worth-50-000-music-video-Handlebars-Jennie.htmlProfessor Alice Roberts, a leading anthropologist and TV presenter, believes the Elgin Marbles should be returned to their native Greece. The 30-plus classical Greek monuments have been on display in the British Museum in London for over 200 years, sparking debate about their ownership. Professor Roberts discussed this issue with Greece's Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, while filming a Channel 4 series. She emphasized that the removal of cultural artefacts can be damaging if not done consensually. The marbles were removed by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century and have been at the British Museum since then.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14484135/Elgin-Marbles-returned-Greece-anthropologist-Alice-Roberts.htmlThe Literature, Art and Culture Research Association (ESKADER) commemorated the 50th anniversary of Abdülhak Şinasi Hisar's death in 2013 by visiting his grave, honoring him as "the great writer of the Bosphorus and Istanbul."
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/researchers-find-lost-graves-of-literary-figures-in-istanbul-206738This year's Filmart will feature new pavilions from Australia, Cambodia, India, and Saudi Arabia, as well as first-time exhibitor Kazakhstan, alongside returning pavilions from France, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The event is expected to welcome 750 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions, matching last year's numbers but lower than the pre-pandemic edition in 2019, which featured 880 exhibitors.
https://deadline.com/2025/03/hong-kong-filmart-organizer-new-ai-hub-three-regional-targets-filmart-future-1236322342/