The art of imitation.
From ancient sculptures to computer software, counterfeits have been a cultural phenomenon for centuries.
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Chances are you have seen it before: a bootleg version of the latest Hollywood blockbuster or that Chanel purse that’s a just few stitches shy of being the real deal. Imitations have been around for as long as good ideas have existed, as demonstrated in Fakes and Forgeries: Yesterday and Today, the Royal Ontario Museum's newest exhibition.
The interactive exhibition, which is on display until April 4, 2010, teaches the long-standing and lucrative business of forgeries and the minuscule clues that professionals use to distinguish real from fake. Visitors are invited to use their own observation skills to decide which of the 115 artifacts on display are authentic and which are counterfeit.
While underwhelming in size compared to the ROM's recent Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition, the interactive nature of the Fakes and Forgeries will leave you engaged for longer than expected. The items on display include Canadian currency, fine china, ancient pottery, and computer software. One of the most interesting displays deals with counterfeit merchandising, a serious business that costs the Canadian government $22 billion every year. Here you’ll find a collection of imitations often discussed in the media, like the dangerous lead-poison toys that are made and sold at cheaper prices. Fakes and Forgeries is particularly conducive to young children, who will eagerly buy into the guessing game that the exhibition promotes.
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