Visitors to MONA next month will have the chance to hear an album by one of the world's biggest rap groups that few have heard before - the Wu-Tang Clan's album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.
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The group was recorded the album secretly over six years, pressed it onto a two-CD copy and the digital master files were then deleted.
The album was auctioned in 2015, and it has since changed hands with digital art collective Pleasr the current owner.
The album's purchaser is bound by a legal agreement that the album cannot be commercially exploited until 2103.
It can, however, be played at private listening parties which is what will happen at MONA in June.
The album's appearance at MONA is the first time that the album has been loaned to a museum since the original sale.
Pleasr said in a statement:
"With this single work of art, the Wu-Tang Clan's intention was to redefine the meaning of music ownership and value in a world of digital streaming and commodification of music.
"Pleasr is honoured to partner with Mona to support RZA's vision for Once Upon a Time in Shaolin."
Museum visitors can experience a curated 30-minute mix from the album, played from a personalised Wu-Tang PlayStation 1 in MONA's recording studio, Frying Pan, by attending a listening event.
Namedropping the Wu-Tang Clan will run twice daily between Friday and Monday, between 15 to 24 June.
There will only be a limited number of free tickets for each event, and tickets will be available through the MONA website from 10am on Thursday, May 30
The album's display at the museum is part of the exhibition Namedropping which will start on June 15 and run until April 21.
Music fans will be able to see the original handwritten lyrics to David Bowie's Starman, complete with edits and spelling corrections.
The piece was purchased by David Walsh at an auction in 2022, and it is the first time it has been on display at the museum.
"I like David Bowie," Mr Walsh said.
"If you like Bowie, it's a pretty good bet you'll like MONA. That's why we namedrop.
"So why might this rendition of only the lyrics - after all, it's the performance that made it famous - be worth the £40,000 that the auction house estimated?
"Well, it makes the point about Namedropping, so it has come in handy for this exhibition."
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
