An incredibly rare and valuable album, which only a select few have ever heard, is set to be exhibited at an Australian gallery, offering the public a glimpse into its exclusive tracks.
Encased in an ornate silver box, “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” was recorded secretly by the Wu-Tang Clan over six years and crafted to be a fine art piece. This unique album exists as a single CD and holds the title of the most expensive record ever sold. Currently, it is on loan to Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona).
In June, Mona will host intimate listening sessions over 10 days, allowing attendees to hear a curated 30-minute segment of the album. This album is featured in the Namedropping exhibition, which explores themes of status, notoriety, and “the human pursuit.”
“Every once in a while, an object on this planet possesses mystical properties that transcend its material circumstances,” said Jarrod Rawlins, Mona’s Director of Curatorial Affairs. “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin is more than just an album, so… I knew I had to get it into this exhibition.”
The Wu-Tang Clan, formed in Staten Island in the early ’90s, is renowned for revolutionizing hip-hop but also for their controversial lyrics. “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin,” recorded in New York City and produced in Marrakesh between 2006 and 2013, features contributions from the nine surviving members of the group, as well as pop artist Cher and “Game of Thrones” actress Carice Van Houten.
The group’s intent was to counter the devaluation of music caused by online streaming and piracy, adopting a “400-year-old Renaissance-style approach to music, offering it as a commissioned commodity.” The album includes a hand-carved nickel box, a leather-bound manuscript of lyrics, and a certificate of authenticity, with a legal stipulation that prevents the release of its 31 tracks for 88 years.
Producer RZA compared it to a Picasso artwork or an ancient Egyptian artifact, emphasizing its uniqueness as an original piece rather than a master copy. Only a handful of people worldwide have heard portions of the 31 tracks.
In 2015, a select group of potential buyers and media heard a 13-minute segment, and Martin Shkreli, the disgraced pharmaceutical executive who bought the album for $2 million, streamed clips on YouTube to celebrate Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory. Shkreli was later compelled to surrender the album to US prosecutors in 2018 after being convicted of defrauding investors, and it was subsequently sold to the digital art collective PleasrDAO.
Pleasr has stated that the Mona listening parties, scheduled from June 15 to June 24, align with their “bold vision to make a single copy album as a work of fine art.”
Mona is famous for its provocative exhibitions. One recent show, the Ladies Lounge, garnered international attention and became the focal point of a high-profile anti-discrimination case.
