No Nein, #4 (Lost Piece)

No Nein. #4 (Lost Piece)

Medium: Mixed media on wood panel, 20" x 20"

No Nein, #4 continued the theme of the series that brings to light Chanel’s Nazi past by combining luxury and history in a provocative statement. The 20" x 20" wood panel painting featured a bottle, with the haunting phrase, "The receptivity of the masses is very limited… but their power of forgetting is enormous." This quote from Hitler’s book “Mein Kampf”, underscores the dangerous ease with which dark histories can be glossed over or forgotten, replaced by more palatable narratives. The quote, combined with the number "F-7124" at the top of the painting—Chanel’s Nazi spy code—adds layers of unsettling history to the glamorous façade.

This painting, tragically lost due to negligence on the part of Oditto Gallery in Palm Beach in the care of Celeste Jones, was to be sold at $12,000. Despite multiple attempts for restitution over 2 years, the piece has become emblematic of a different kind of propaganda: one that obfuscates responsibility and accountability.

The image was outfitted with a NFC chip linking back to this page.