Report Published on Clandon Park Fire

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Report Published on Clandon Park Fire | The Surrey Fire and Rescue Service has published a report into the fire that devastated Clandon Park in April. According to investigators, the fire was the result of an accident, probably caused by defects in the 18th-century mansion’s electrical distribution board. Around 400 items have been saved from the wreckage, though efforts continue to salvage as much as possible. Art historian Bendor Grosvenor has described the report as ‘depressing reading‘, given that upgrades had been made to the building twice since the Surrey Infantry Museum opened in the basement at Clandon in 1981.

Russia Breaks Cultural Ties with Turkey | After a fighter jet of the Russian airforce was shot for allegedly violating Turkish airspace this week, the Kremlin has announced that it is to break off cultural ties with the country, reports The Art Newspaper. Plans for bilateral cultural initiatives between the two nations had been discussed prior to the incident. Whether links will be reestablished should Turkey make a formal apology remains to be seen.

Dieric Bouts’s St Luke Drawing the Virgin and Child ‘at Risk of Leaving UK’ | A painting of St Luke drawing the Virgin and Child from the workshop of 15th-century Netherlandish painter Dieric Bouts is at risk of leaving Britain unless £3.3m can be found to save it for the nation. UK Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has placed a temporary export bar on the work in the hope that a British-based buyer will come forward. If the funds cannot be found before 26 February 2016, this masterpiece is likely to leave British soil for good.

Maria Taniguchi Wins Hugo Boss Asia Art Award | The 2015 Hugo Boss Asia Art Award for emerging artists has been presented to artist Maria Taniguchi. The award, now on its second edition, grants the winner a stipend of ￥300,000, and was originally set up to champion Chinese artists. This year it retained its ‘focus on Greater China’, with two artists from that country and one from Taiwan shortlisted, but also featured nominees from Southeast Asia. For Taniguchi, who is from Manila, this may be something of a coup.

Hauser & Wirth to Represent David Smith Estate | Hauser & Wirth has announced that it will now be representing the estate of sculptor David Smith. President and co-founder Iwan Wirth has described Smith, who died in 1965, as a ‘giant among giants’ in the realm of modernist sculpture. The estate was previously represented by Gagosian, and representatives have suggested the move was taken in order to reach a younger audience.