The Swedish artist Erik Nordenenkar who recently claimed (with video and receipts evidence on his site) to have created the "biggest drawing in the world" by sending a GPS-equipped plastic briefcase on a 110,664 Km unbroken line trip of 55 days with DHL delivery planes and trucks has admitted it is a hoax.
Many bloggers and sites had questioned the peculiarity that DHL would make needless loops and route stops to produce someone's self-portrait, as well as the fact GPS signal could be not traced from inside the aluminum skin of an airliner. It all made things sound very suspicious. DHL confirmed to the Telegraph the artwork was an "entirely fictional project" and that they had allowed him to film in their Stockholm warehouse as part of a college project, showing how the GPS went through the DHL line, while in fact the GPS package was never sent anywhere.
Now, I have a big problem about this hoax. I did not mind the recent Eiffel Tower hoax, because it was simply an unsolicited design that was put on the designer's site and picked up by lazy reporters who did not double check on something this big. I also did not mind the recent viral success of "guys backflip into jeans" which turned out to be a Levi's stealth ad. Both of these incidents did not claim anything or lie about anything. Sure, they held some information and basked in the instant glory and attention, but they did not lie or present false information as facts.
What this "artist" did is post information, images and videos documenting and "proving" his claim, which is totally different. After these revelations, Nordenenkar has added a line to the bottom of his webpage stating "This is fictional work. DHL did not transport the GPS at any time."
Yeah, a little too late buddy... Check out our original report of his claim and recent hoaxes:
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Fake Artwork Hoaxes
- Identify opportunities to prevent and debunk fake artwork claims through the use of technology and thorough verification processes.
- Viral Marketing Deceptions
- Develop strategies to create authentic and transparent viral marketing campaigns to avoid misleading consumers with false information.
- Ethics in Self-promotion
- Explore ethical practices and guidelines in self-promotion to maintain trust and credibility in the art and marketing industries.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Art & Design
- Implement blockchain technology and digital authentication methods to ensure the authenticity of artworks and prevent fraudulent claims.
- Marketing & Advertising
- Innovate new approaches to viral marketing campaigns that prioritize honesty, transparency, and genuine consumer engagement.
- Media & Journalism
- Establish strict fact-checking procedures and standards to verify information and prevent the spread of false news stories or claims.
