Collector Who Burned Frida Kahlo Painting to Make NFT Under Investigation

A now viral video by Frida.nft—an organization that aims to bridge the gap between traditional and digital art through blockchain technology—documents what initially appears to be a typical, lavish party: guests are clad in bedazzled clothing, drinks are flowing… even a mariachi band marches in. The party takes a turn, however, when the host, Mexican art collector Martin Mobarak, turns to the camera and states, “what we are going to do today is going to change the lives of thousands of children… I hope everyone that’s here can understand it.” Mobarak then proceeds to unveil Frida Kahlo’s “Fantasmones Siniestros” (priced at approximately $10 million), places it inside a martini glass, and burns the artwork to a crisp.

10,000 NFTs—unique digital tokens—of the drawing are for sale for 3 ETH each (equivalent to around $1,350) in an attempt to raise over $13 million for various organizations including the Autism Society, the Children’s Craniofacial Association, and Mexico’s Frida Kahlo Museum (museum officials, however, released a statement that “they disagree with any intention of support to the museum generated from the allegedd estruction of cultural heritage”). Though these efforts may sound noble, his destruction of a national monument constitutes a crime under Mexican FederalLaw and has sparked widespread criticism.

Mobarak is currently under investigation for the burning of Kahlo’s work. Moreover, there are so many fake Kahlo works in the world that it has yet to be determined whether the piece is authentic. Either way, Mobarak’s burning of a fake replica would be also illegal because he did not secure reproduction rights. The collector has defended his actions by claiming that this “transition into the Metaverse” has effectively immortalized the work. Ultimately, the situation raises questions that are rapidly becoming more and more relevant as we move into the next stages of the digital age: when does the assertion of ownership rights transcend the preservation of art? And can digitalization constitute preservation?

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https://hyperallergic.com/765443/collector-who-burned-frida-kahlo-work-for-nft-under-investigation/

https://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/visual-arts/article266851746.html