[CPProt.net] Dunlop accused of art heist

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Dunlop accused of art heist

The World Today - Monday, 15 August , 2005  12:50:00
Reporter: Lisa Millar

ELEANOR HALL: The art world is this morning grappling with the latest case
of an alleged theft of artworks, one that some are suggesting could be the
biggest involving original Australian work.

The nationally acclaimed artist, Richard Dunlop, is at the centre of the
case, with police alleging that he's stolen hundreds of oils, sketches and
prints worth up to $1-million.

But Mr Dunlop is this morning speaking out in his defence, saying the
artwork is worth less than $1,000 and that the allegations have only come
about because of the unregulated nature of the art industry.

In Brisbane, Lisa Millar reports.

LISA MILLAR: Richard Dunlop has been working as an artist for the last 20
years. The 44-year-old has exhibited in galleries around Australia and has
lectured at universities.

On Friday police raided his house, seizing prints, oils and sketches.

He's been given notice to appear in Brisbane's magistrate's court next
month, and police say he'll be charged with stealing artwork from a gallery
in Brisbane in 1994 and from a Sydney gallery owned by the prominent dealer
Ray Hughes between 1996 and 2003.

Hundreds of pieces are believed to be involved, works by Joe Furlonger and
William Robinson.

Police are this morning estimating they could be worth between $500,000 and
$1-million, making it the largest ever theft of original Australian artwork.

Richard Dunlop spoke to the media on the front lawn of his Brisbane home
this morning.

RICHARD DUNLOP: The notion of the greatest art heist of the century is
rather flattering, but misleading.

LISA MILLAR: He says the artwork is only worth $600, and there's a simple
explanation.

RICHARD DUNLOP: Part of the payment for art is commonly done with cash.
Usually you receive a discount if you pay with cash. It's quite an
unregulated industry, there's rarely. or there sometimes is no paper trail.
I was often encouraged to take works by other people in lieu of payment for
art sales.

LISA MILLAR: Mr Dunlop says his lawyer believes the case is unusual, and
while it's been a stressful experience, Mr Dunlop believes it will be
cleared up; he'll be strenuously defending himself.

Mr Hughes has not been available for comment.

Art critic for the Australian Financial Review, and co-author of the
Encyclopaedia of Australian Art, Susan McCulloch, says the art industry
doesn't operate by one set of rules.

SUSAN MCCULLOCH: It's always been like that, it's not. it goes way back to
you know, to European times and whenever there's money to be made out of a
commodity, unless it's a very. unless somebody like a watchdog, a public
watchdog or an industry watchdog takes a really keen interest in it, it is
totally unregulated. I suppose you could equate it with the gem trade or
something.

LISA MILLAR: Art theft is a booming business. The estimate of the value of
the international market for stolen art ranges from $700-million to
$9-billion.

And the recovery rate has been estimated to be as low as 10 per cent, with
conviction of criminals for crimes involving art even lower.

SUSAN MCCULLOCH: If you start to follow the facts, the facts for the theft
trail of the art world, it's a never-ending and somewhat, either
enthralling, exciting or bleak journey, depending on your frame of mind at
the time.

ELEANOR HALL: That's art critic, Susan McCulloch speaking to Lisa Millar in
Brisbane.