From Damien Hirst’s demon statues ‘discovered’ underwater to an exhibition showcasing a Finnish business dedicated to anchovies and black holes, artists are increasingly using ‘imaginary facts’ to thrill audiences. Anna Turner assesses why, in an age of concern about fake news, such a practice has become so popular.
In Uusikaupunki, Finland, there is a small museum dedicated to Bonk Business Inc, a “multiglobal industrial conglomerate” specialising in anchovy products, cosmic therapy and localised black holes. The museum chronicles the history and achievements of the company in obsessive detail, displaying old advertisements and inventions dating back to 1893. On the wall hangs a corporate...Keep reading on The Guardian