HOW ARE YOU COLLECTING ARTWORKS?
There are numerous databases, government reports and scientific publications detailing the disappearance of artworks. Some are more accessible than others. We read them and gather all the information on the loss of “original artworks” in order to classify and organize them. We have set up a form so artists can document their own disappearances. We’ve come up with other formats, such as workshops, hackathons and collaborations with libraries, which we’ll be activating as soon as possible.
WHAT IS ACTUALLY AN “ORIGINAL ARTWORK” ?
Philosophy has never been able to define what an original work of art is, but we have had to limit the scope of our research. We consider an “original artwork” to be any work produced by one or more people for no other purpose than itself. Our collection brings together all works that have been removed from our view,thus, multiples (prints, serigraphs, books, etc.) are not included, unless we are certain that all editions have vanished. Similarly, we have chosen not to include furniture or design dating from after the first industrial revolution, as it is very complicated to know whether an object was mass-produced or not. Our knowledge in this field is unfortunately limited, but if anyone with a certain expertise would like to enlighten us, they’re more than welcome!
HOW AN ARTWORK IS CONSIDERED AS “LOST” ?
We consider an artwork to be lost as soon as it has been removed from our view, in other words, as soon as it is officially considered to be missing, destroyed, stolen or damaged. When a work is destroyed, during a conflict or a natural disaster for example, and it is possible to find a declaration stating that it has been destroyed, it is then included to the database. Restored artworks are not considered as destroyed, even if the restoration is described by some people as "bad". Only unrestored works are considered damaged. If a work is lost, this is generally due to negligence on the part of the institution responsible for its conservation. Works belonging to private collectors and lying dormant in a storage in a free port are not " missing " because they may reappear at a sale or an exhibition. Stolen works may also reappear at any time, but this is generally an exception, which is why we include them in the database.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS CLASSIFICATION ?
Classification rhymes with simplification. We are aware that our classification makes it difficult to represent the full diversity of the disappearance of artworks. However, it is essential to categorize these disappearances as neutrally as possible, so that the works can be connected to each other, and thereby facilitate their (re)discovery. We’re always open to suggestions, so please drop us a line if you'd like to take part in the wonderful adventure that is Oblivion Collection.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT ?
Why hasn’t anyone done this before?
HOW CAN I HELP ?
As an artist, you can document the disappearance of your own works of art. Anyone who wants to help us can join our collective, because we need help to feed the database, to imagine new tools for gathering information, to improve the quality of the information. You can help us from anywhere in the world, even for a few hours a month, by listing the information contained in a book or contacting a public collection near you to open up its data.
CAN I GET AN ARTWORK REMOVED FROM THE COLLECTION ? If we have published one of your works, it’s only because it has been published elsewhere! If you don’t want your missing artwork to be remembered, you can write us and we’ll remove it.
WHAT’S NEXT ?
The database of 10,000 works will be published in the first semester of 2025. We are in discussion with a wonderful gallery about having an exhibition there, and we have lots of ideas for events. We’re open to all kinds of collaboration and we have plenty of ideas.
WHO IS BEHIND OBLIVION COLLECTION ?
Oblivion Collective has been constituted by Arthur Francietta (artist), William Ndedi (developer) and Andy Rankin (curator). We were established as a non-profit association under the French law of 1901 on February 20, 2024 in Paris. Our RNA number is W751273061.