- Only a few people in the entire world have heard the album.
- It will be presented to the public for the first time at the Museum of Old and New Art.
The world’s rarest album, which only a few people in the world have ever heard, will go on display at a gallery in Australia.
Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, which was secretly recorded over a six-year period by the Wu-Tang Clan, will be presented to the public for the first time at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart, Tasmania. .
For 10 days in June, the museum will hold small, 30-minute listening parties where fans can listen to a curated sample of the loaned creation.
Housed in its own silver box, the pioneering American hip-hop group’s seventh studio album has only one physical copy and is the most expensive ever sold.
The album, intended to be a beautiful work of art, was once purchased by disgraced pharmaceutical businessman Martin Shkreli for $2 million.
Housed in its own silver box, the seventh studio album from the pioneering American hip-hop group only has one physical copy and is the most expensive ever sold.
Once Upon a Time in Shaolin was secretly recorded over a period of six years by Wu-Tang Clan
The long-awaited event will take place on Saturday, June 15 and Monday, June 24 at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Tickets are free if you’re lucky enough to get one when they go on sale at 10am on Thursday 30 May.
It is part of MONA’s Namedropping exhibition, which will take place between June 15, 2024 and April 21, 2025, and which aims to examine status, notoriety and “the human quest.”
The exhibition of some 200 works of art and objects gathered in the underground galleries of MONA will raise questions: What makes the big names great: Porsche, Picasso or Pompidou? What is the nature of status and why is it useful?
Speaking about the album, MONA current affairs director Jarod Rawlins said: “Every once in a while, an object on this planet possesses mystical properties that transcend its material circumstances.
“Once Upon a Time in Shaolin is more than just an album, so when I thought about the status and how transcendent a name could be, I knew I had to include it in this exhibition.”
The album is subject to a legal agreement that prevents its commercial release until the year 2103; however, it can be played at listening parties.
Upon creation, it was printed on a two-CD copy with the digital master files removed.
Tickets are free if you’re lucky enough to get one when they go on sale at 10am on Thursday 30 May.
Formed in 1992 in New York City, Wu-Tang Clan is often praised for changing the way the world viewed hip-hop and revolutionizing the genre.
After its original sale at auction in 2015, it became the property of digital art collective Pleasr.
The album’s appearance at MONA marks the first time it has been loaned to a museum since the original sale.
It was recorded in New York City and features vocals from the group’s nine surviving members, as well as Cher and Game of Thrones star Carice Van Houten.
In a statement reported by The Guardian Pleasr said it was “an honor to partner with Mona to support RZA’s vision of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.”
Adding: ‘Ten years ago, the Wu-Tang Clan had the bold vision of making a single-copy album as a work of art. To put it in an art gallery, make the music become a living piece like a Mona Lisa or an Egyptian scepter.
“With this single work of art, the Wu-Tang Clan’s intention was to redefine the meaning of ownership and value of music in a world of digital streaming and commodification of music.”
Formed in 1992 in New York City, Wu-Tang Clan is often praised for changing the way the world viewed hip-hop and revolutionizing the genre: they became one of the most legendary rap groups.
The Grammy-nominated music collective has released eight studio albums, and their second release, Wu-Tang Forever, topped the UK charts.