Halifax Company can Secure your Artwork Using DNA
HALIFAX — A Halifax company wants to make the lucrative world of art counterfeiting a lot more difficult for would-be fraudsters. DNA Technologies, which has been headquartered in Halifax since 2001, has launched a patent that uses synthetic DNA to authenticate works of art.
The company, which partnered with HFX Canvas Prints to provide the unique service, will mark prints of original art with a DNA strand. A certificate of authenticity is then marked with the same strand. If there is ever any dispute over the validity of the certificate, the DNA strand will prove it’s real, as well as the artwork itself.
“Most collectors will take a certificate as gospel,” Barry Scott, director of partnerships at DNA Technologies tells Huddle. “But if it gets challenged, we have highly specified equipment where we can check the DNA mark to validate the registration.”
Since two Halifax companies launched this patented service, it’s only fitting that a Halifax artist became the first to use it. Fabrice Goosens, a.k.a. Fabrice The Artist, makes realistic portraits- including celebrities and pop culture characters.
“I’m excited and proud to have a part in bringing this amazing technology to the art world,” said Goosens in a recent press release. “It’s so important to be able to authenticate your art in such a strong way – especially today.”
In the lucrative world of fine art, fraud is nothing new. It is an underground industry that generates millions of dollars. DNA Technologies has become heavily involved in trying to prevent Indigenous art fraud, which is a major problem in North America.
“I’ve heard Indigenous artists’ stories that just stopped short of making you want to cry,” said Scott.
“We have started a national program to support the indigenous people and we have been talking to just short of the prime minister’s office on this, because, quite frankly, we can help the Indigenous artists. And we are dealing directly with some of the most senior people within the Art Council of Canada.”
DNA Technologies is involved in the consumer protection of more than just art. After all, fraud and counterfeiting are a problem anytime valuable collectibles are involved.
Last month, DNA Technologies assisted in making sure the sports memorabilia auction for the 50th Sports Charity Dinner in Halifax was authentic. Items that were signed on-site by George St. Pierre and Darryl Sittler were given DNA Technologies’ patented security treatment.
On top of the synthetic DNA strand, the sports memorabilia were also given a digital overlay, allowing the items to be scanned for verification.
DNA Technologies has also been involved in major worldwide sporting events. It has provided authentication for footballs used during the Superbowls, and for official Olympic gear.
In a twist of irony, DNA itself has become somewhat of a collector’s item, particularly when biological DNA is used in a product. DNA Technologies recently assisted with a fundraiser to repair a centuries-old farm in Clare, Nova Scotia. Artwork was sold for the fundraiser, with a special fruity ingredient.
“We took the biological DNA from a 250-year-old apple tree that only grows in Claire Nova Scotia. It’s called the Belliveau Apple. And we took this DNA and infused that right into the production of a print,” said Scott.
“So, any person that bought that print, not only do they get the certificate of authentication, but it also contains the actual DNA from a 250-year-old apple tree.”
The Halifax company was also involved in the lucrative wine industry. While most wines are collected for their taste, rarity, and age, DNA Technologies found a way to make the wine label itself worth collecting.
“We put a 100-year-old grapevine DNA that only grew in Australia in a wine label for the introductory of the of an anniversary wine and it broke records on sales and marketing,” said Scott.
“So not only was it a unique bottle of wine because it was made from that vine, but the label was also a collector’s label because it had DNA from that grapevine as well.”
Derek Montague is a Huddle reporter in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].