# Hidden Treasure Sculptures The Exchange by Ben Blanc Has a One-Of-A-Kind Gold Nugget Inside By Ana Lopez | Published 2012-02-01 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-exchange-by-ben-blanc References: [design-milk](http://design-milk.com/the-exchange-by-ben-blanc/) & [benblanc](http://www.benblanc.com/the-exchange/about-the-exchange/) This project entitled The Exchange by Ben Blanc will catch the attention of even those who dislike art. Like a golden ticket inside a Willy Wonka chocolate bar, one of the 200 handmade pieces by the artist has a 20.06-gram gold nugget. Consisting of black-dyed, rock-like sculptures made of Douglas Fir, this installation is full of surprises. One of these objects has inserted a river-washed Alaskan Gold nugget recovered from the Nome area in 2011. This gold has a value of approximately $1,010.82 dollars; however, each object was sold for only $30 at the end of the exhibition. The sculptures were sequentially numbered in order to easily identify where the precious stone was located. Like a lottery ticket, the winning number of the The Exchange by Ben Blanc will be announced on the artist's website. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.3/10 - Popularity: 69% | Activity: 81% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Hidden Treasure Sculptures:** The inclusion of valuable hidden elements within sculptures adds an element of surprise and excitement to traditional artwork. - **Sequential Numbering:** Numbering sculptures sequentially to easily identify the location of hidden elements can create a sense of anticipation and engagement for viewers. - **Art Lottery:** The concept of announcing a winning number for a sculpture with hidden treasures mimics the excitement and anticipation of a lottery, attracting both art enthusiasts and gamblers alike. ### Who This Affects Most - **Art:** Artists and galleries can explore the incorporation of hidden elements within sculptures to attract a wider audience and create a unique selling point. - **Collectibles:** The inclusion of valuable hidden elements within sculptures can turn them into highly sought-after collectible items, appealing to collectors and enthusiasts. - **Experience-based Entertainment:** Integrating hidden elements within sculptures can create immersive and interactive experiences for visitors, driving interest in museums, exhibitions, and other entertainment venues. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Pearl-Centric Art Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/giga-pearl.md) - [Avant-Garde Sculptural Editions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sculptural-edition.md) - [Evolving Hybrid Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/human-one.md) - [Striking Wearable Sculpture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wearable-sculpture-1.md) - [Cheese-Branded Gold Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/velveeta.md) - [Eroded Coin Studded Jewelry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eroded-coin.md) - [Lightning-Inspired Artful Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bright-light-shining.md) - [14-Karat Gold Puzzle Pieces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bionicle-golden-kanohi.md) - [Unseen Artist Masterpieces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/michelangelos-untold-works.md)