Andrei Molodkin claims to have safeguarded 16 artworks, collectively valued at over $45 million (£42.77 million), within a 29-ton safe containing an “extremely corrosive” substance and threatens to destroy all of them if Julian Assange dies in prison, according to Skynews.com.
It is known that the pieces are stored in boxes along a pneumatic pump linking two white barrels: one containing acid powder and the other an accelerator capable of initiating a chemical reaction potent enough to reduce the contents of the safe to debris, according to Molodkin.
This initiative, dubbed “Dead Man’s Switch,” receives support from Stella, the wife of Julian Assange, who awaits his final appeal against extradition to the US, where he faces charges under the Espionage Act, according to skynews.com report.
Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is sought by US authorities for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to acquire and disclose national defense information following the release of hundreds of thousands of leaked documents concerning the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The 52-year-old maintains his innocence. Having been detained in London’s Belmarsh prison for nearly five years, Assange is set to have his final appeal heard at the High Court in London on February 20 and 21.
Molodkin conveyed to Sky News: “In our turbulent era, where numerous conflicts persist, the destruction of art carries a heavier taboo than the destruction of human life. Since Julian Assange’s imprisonment… we’ve witnessed a tightening grip on freedom of expression, speech, and information. This sensation is particularly pronounced for me now.”
The Russian dissident remains silent about the specific artworks housed within the safe but asserts that the collection includes pieces by renowned artists such as Picasso, Rembrandt, Warhol, Jasper Johns, Jannis Kounellis, Robert Rauschenberg, Sarah Lucas, Santiago Sierra, Jake Chapman, and Molodkin himself, among others.
Explaining how the “Dead Man’s Switch” works, he says a 24-hour countdown timer must be reset before it reaches zero to prevent the corrosive material from being released.
He says “someone close” to Assange, confirming he is still alive in prison each day. If Assange is released from prison, the works of art will be returned to their owners, Molodkin adds.
