15/03/2001

Two weeks ago a gang of art faker’s were arrested in Barcelona after a joint investigation by Italian and Spanish detectives after thousands of prints were flooding the market. Salvador Dalì worked under the pseudonym Gala, producing "authentic faked works", whereby blank pieces of paper were signed by the author. The Gala works remained hidden from the public until after Dalì died in 1989, finding their way into the hands of criminal gangs. The presigned works thus provide the opportunity to be passed off as originals after they were painted and printed with his style and resold. It is believed the sales from the fake works provided a convenient front for money laundering. (Dorian Cara)