London, UK – 12 November 2020 – A digital collection of some of the world’s most iconic and intriguing lost artworks, Samsung today announces the launch of its Missing Masterpieces exhibition. Featuring pieces that cannot be physically seen anywhere as they are feared to have been lost forever, they have been brought together for the very first time to be enjoyed by anyone, wherever they are, and to aid the work being done to recover them.
They include “View Auvers-sur-Oise” by Paul Cézanne, which went missing when burglars took advantage of New Year’s Eve 1999 festivities to steal the painting in cinematic style. Climbing adjacent scaffolding, smashing a skylight, dropping a rope ladder down and shielding their path with a smoke bomb. As well as “Chloe & Emma” by Barbora Kysilkova, which was stolen in broad daylight from a museum in Norway. The thieves plucked out more than 200 nails to pull out the canvas, leaving its frame in an immaculate state.
As our lives have become more virtual, the power that technology has to bring people together has never been clearer. The Missing Masterpieces exhibition features some of the most striking lost paintings produced by world-renowned artists such as Van Gogh, Cézanne and Monet; and allows everyone to experience and learn more about these beautiful pieces of art, some of which may never be found.
Across Europe, the pandemic has had a significant impact on art and culture. Millions of euros’ worth of art is stolen every year, but during lockdown alone, at least six pieces were stolen including Van Gogh’s “Spring Garden”, which was taken on what would have been the artist’s 167th birthday.
Nathan Sheffield, Samsung Europe Head of Visual Display, said, “Art is for the enjoyment of everyone, and we have a collective responsibility to protect and preserve our culture for future generations. This is why we are launching Missing Masterpieces, to ensure priceless pieces that may never be seen again, can be enjoyed by as wide an audience as possible. The Frame embodies this, helping to democratise art for everyone and acting as both a TV and a window into the world of art.”
The Frame is unlike any other television. With its uniquely frame-like design, it functions both as a multi-media art platform while blending into home décor when it is not in use. From the moment it is turned off, Art Mode turns on – transforming the once blank, black screen into a gallery for the world’s most magnificent art collections. Equipped with QLED technology, the colours of the original works of art are expressed in high definition. All 12 artworks in the Missing Masterpieces exhibition are available to The Frame users for free in the Art Store catalogue.
The exhibition has been curated in partnership with Dr Noah Charney, esteemed art crime expert and founder of The Association for Research into Crimes Against Art (ARCA) and features beautiful masterpieces that global law enforcement agencies are actively trying to recover.
Dr Noah Charney, Founder of ARCA, said, “Before you get to work on a puzzle, you want to gather all the pieces, right? It’s the same with a crime or a mysterious loss. From contradictory media reports to speculation in Reddit feeds – the clues are out there, but the volume of information can be overwhelming. This is where technology and social media can help by bringing people together to assist the search. It’s not unheard of for an innocuous tip posted online to be the key that unlocks a case.”
The Missing Masterpieces exhibition will be live for three months (12 November – 10 February 2021). To find out more check out the Art Store or visit the Missing Masterpieces website here: https://www.samsung.com/uk/explore/entertainment/missing-masterpieces-and-lost-art-on-the-frame/
Missing Masterpieces and lost art on The Frame- The world’s most wanted art exhibition
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