The $3.2 million Real Fake
Diriyah Star Night
One morning, artist Jeroen van der Most read that one of his paintings sold for $3.2 million in Saudi Arabia. And although it looked like an artwork he created a long time ago; it wasn’t by his hand. A fake Van der Most…
What unfolds in the months following is a dazzling tale of a journey to Saudi Arabia, in which the artist learns a princess bought the painting. Amazingly, he eventually finds the artwork… And even better: he arranges to sign it with his autograph! This made him the official artist behind the painting worth millions, called the Diriyah Star Night.
These are just a couple of the bizarre events that took place in the story, documented by international media:
GQ magazine UK’s Will Coldwell, released this great long read on it.
Dutch journalist Lex Boon was eyewitness and wrote a 12-page article about it in one of the major newspapers of The Netherlands, Parool.
Podcast creator Podimo launched a Dutch podcast series. Chosen by Belgian newspaper De Morgen as one of the 10 best podcasts of 2022.
On the one hand the tale of the Diriyah Star Night seems a crime- or adventure story, but at the same time it seems to be an artwork in itself. That defies concepts like real, fake, and ownership. And seems a metaphor for our age of AI, NFTs, and the metaverse.
The story is still developing, more will be released soon…
Left: Opening shot of an article about the painting by a Saudi Arabian newspaper. Right: The artist in Saudi Arabia, Diriyah.
The incredible moment the artist signs the Diriyah Star Night in Saudi Arabia.
The story in a long read in GQ magazine, UK. Text by Will Coldwell, pics of the artist by Fredrik Altinell.
Frontpage of Dutch newspaper Parool’s website, december 2021.
