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Italian Police Uncover $212 Million USD of Fake Art in Forgery Ring Bust
Italian police have uncovered a pan-European forgery ring responsible for producing and selling counterfeit artworks attributed to dozens artists including Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí and Banksy. As of November 11, the Carabinieri art squad and Pisa’s prosecutor’s office have announced that 38 individuals are currently under investigation for forgery, handling stolen goods and illegal art sales.The investigation, codenamed “Operation Cariatide,” began in March 2023 when Italy’s art police confiscated 200 fake pieces, which included a Modigliani caryatid, from a businessman in Pisa. More recently, a string of suspicious online auctions led investigators to uncover the forgery network and six of their workshops – two in Tuscany, one in Venice and three abroad – where the replic...
Ur Kasin Embraces the Uncertainty of Adulthood in ‘All Is Blurred’
Ur Kasin is making his London debut with a new solo exhibition entitled All Is Blurred. Staged at JD Malat Gallery, the exhibition features six large-scale oil paintings that transform everyday moments into richly layered surrealist scenes. Echoing the tender messiness of a coming of age, each work depicts a slice of life in an unforgiving world.Coursing through euphoric highs and descents into numbness, the exhibition takes viewers on the thundering, psychological journey that is growing up, a time where every emotion is rich in its own right. The works are anchored by themes of self-discovery and existentialism as Kasin’s character hopes to find himself in plumes of smoke, McDonald’s drive-through meals and ice-cold bottles of Asahi. Seeking refuge in indulgence, the figure brings light ...
Porsche Unleashes New 690 Horsepower Taycan GTS
Porsche has expanded its Taycan lineup yet again, with the reintroduction of the Taycan GTS and GTS Sport Turismo, offering enhanced performance, design updates and increased range. The GTS series, known for its sporty edge and positioned between the Taycan 4S and Taycan Turbo, makes its return as a powerful all-rounder in both sedan and Sport Turismo body styles.The new Taycan GTS boasts up to 515 kW (690 hp) of overboost power using Launch Control, which is 75 kW more than its predecessor. A push-to-pass function within the Sport Chrono package allows for an additional boost of up to 70 kW, pushing acceleration further. The GTS sports sedan and GTS Sport Turismo now reach 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds, shaving off 0.4 seconds from previous models and have a top range of up to 390 miles.Both...
Audi Debuts Exclusive “AUDI” Brand in China
Audi has unveiled a new brand exclusive to China, named "AUDI." The launch includes the AUDI E concept car, marking an EV product launch tailored to Chinese consumers. Unlike the traditional four-ringed logo, "AUDI" in all caps highlights a unique identity, combining Audi’s DNA with innovations specific to China’s tech-savvy market.Notably, Audi's new Chinese-exclusive brand and its first model, the AUDI E concept, result from a collaboration with SAIC. The AUDI E concept is designed to bring a new luxury electric vehicle offering to the region. This sleek, all-electric Sportback integrates the most current digital systems and features aimed at redefining connectivity and automation.As for performance, the AUDI E concept boasts twin electric motors that deliver 570 kW and 590 lb-ft of torq...
Mercedes-AMG Develops First Standalone High-Performance SUV
Mercedes-AMG announced that it's building its first standalone high-performance SUV, marking the brand's debut in independently developing an SUV entirely in-house. This innovative off-roader also marks the second use of the brand's proprietary AMG.EA electric platform. Development models are set to be tested this winter, where AMG will share a glimpse of its vision for the future of high-performance electric off-road vehicles.For over 25 years, AMG has been operating in the high-performance SUV space. Since the release of the ML 55 AMG, which effectively established AMG's reputation in the SUV market, the brand’s SUV lineup has seen steady growth and popularity. Today, Mercedes-AMG’s SUV offerings encompass six models, from the compact GLA to the spacious GLS, with the Mercedes-AMG G 63 s...
Lamborghini Unleashes One-of-One Revuelto “Opera Unica”
Lamborghini has unveiled its latest Revuelto "Opera Unica" at the Esperienza Arte in Shanghai, designed to showcase the artistry and innovation of the brand's Ad Personam customization program. This one-of-a-kind follows the stunning Sardinia-inspired Opera Unica and was crafted by Lamborghini Centro Stile specifically for the Chinese market.Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Lamborghini, described the Opera Unica as a seamless fusion of "speed, power, and artistry." The Revuelto "Opera Unica" embodies Lamborghini's Direzione Cor Tauri strategy toward electrification with its cosmic-inspired exterior — a hand-painted livery in shades of Rosso Mars, Arancio Dac and Arancio Apodis. The intricate fading effect from Nero Pegaso to Rosso Efesto reflects Lamborghini’s meticulous attention to detail, wit...
Rare Porsche 911 “Turbo Remastered” 1974 Prototype Homage Surfaces for Auction
A very rare and significant Porsche 911, the "Turbo Remastered" by Porsche's Sonderwunsch program, has surfaced for auction. This unique model, created in honor of the iconic 1974 911 Turbo gifted to Louise Piëch, daughter of Porsche founder Ferdinand Porsche, celebrates 50 years of the model.First revealed at the 2023 Icons of Porsche festival in Dubai, this one-off edition is the result of a collaboration between Style Porsche, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur and Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE. Paying homage to Piëch's original prototype, the car is finished in GT Silver with custom decals, including an Austrian autobahn-inspired front-wing emblem. Black five-spoke wheels, reminiscent of the classic Fuchs alloys, complete its nostalgic yet striking exterior.Inside, the car boasts a two-...
Bentley Honors Remembrance Day with Unique Bentayga EWB Mulliner
Bentley has unveiled a unique Bentayga EWB Mulliner in honor of Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The one-of-a-kind model, developed by Bentley’s design team and the BeReady network — a support group for veterans and reservists within Bentley —features a striking poppy-themed wrap that symbolizes resilience.The design, featuring 80 red poppies rising from a map of northern France, honors the path taken by Allied forces on D-Day, each flower representing a life sacrificed in the pursuit of peace. Robin Page, Bentley’s Director of Design, calls the Bentayga "a symbol of our collective memory," reflecting Bentley’s respect for history while looking toward the future.This Remembrance Car will embark on a commemorative tour across the UK, starting with community events in Crewe...
Dries Van Noten Announces ‘Common Ground’ Exhibition
Afterstepping down from his eponymous label back in March, and revealing his final runway showcase in June, Dries Van Noten has shifted his focus. The designer has announced the opening of his Common Ground exhibition, which, per a press release, explores the "multifaceted concept of home" through the work of six contemporary artists.Curated by Brian Boa – the founder of Los Angeles' Trading Places – the exhibition opens today, November 9 at The Little House, and features work from EFE, Martine Syms, Mark Lecky, Lloyd Foster, Walid Labri and Hassan Rahim."The exhibition invites viewers to explore the essence of home as a feeling, a sense of security and a personal representation, while addressing the themes of belonging and identity," a press release explicates.EFE and Rahim each contribut...
These Are Just Some of Our Favorite Cars We Saw at SEMA 2024
SEMA – the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association show held in Las Vegas annually – just wrapped up this week, and we were in witness to some truly awesome builds. Some a bit more lowkey and subtle, while others are definitely attention grabbing than your standard C&C car.The show this year brought in over 160,000 guests and had one of its largest number of vendors and exhibitors – 1.6 million sq. ft of booths within 3 million square feet of campus – according to president Mike Spagnola. "[The show] is all passion driven, it's all cool stuff. It really represents just about every single facet of the industry." Spagnola and its representatives also confirmed that SEMA is now the largest show in Las Vegas, overtaking the previous titleholder, CES (Consumer Electronics Show).And while ...
Olafur Eliasson’s ‘Lifeworld’ Brings Blurred Perspectives to Major Cities
Olafur Eliasson’s latest project, Lifeworld, transforms major city screens into abstract visual landscapes, marking a significant partnership between CIRCA and WeTransfer. Launched on October 1, the digital art installation is appearing nightly at 20:24 on screens in iconic global locations: London’s Piccadilly Lights, K-Pop Square in Seoul, Berlin’s Limes Kurfürstendamm and throughout November on Times Square’s 92 screens in New York as part of Time Square Art's Midnight Moment.The installation, centered around soft, blurred abstractions, invites viewers to explore the familiar yet undefined aspects of public spaces, reflecting their surroundings in real-time through a fogged lens. Eliasson aims to break away from the consumer-driven imagery often dominating these screens, prompting refle...
