The Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Tasmania is set to showcase an extraordinary exhibit featuring the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan’s highly coveted album “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.” This single-copy album, recorded clandestinely over several years in New York and Marrakech, features the nine original members of the group along with guest appearances by Cher and Carice van Houten. With only one physical CD in existence, the album was created as a deliberate departure from the digital era’s devaluation of music, embodying a fusion of art and commerce. Complete with a hand-carved nickel box and a leather-bound manuscript, the album comes with a legal stipulation that prohibits its release for 88 years.
Mona’s upcoming exhibition, “Namedropping,” will offer visitors a rare opportunity to experience a curated sample of “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.” Despite its limited accessibility, the album garnered attention when purchased for $2 million by Martin Shkreli, who later faced legal repercussions. Now owned by digital art collective Pleasr, the album’s inclusion in Mona’s provocative lineup reflects the museum’s commitment to showcasing culturally significant and boundary-pushing works of art. Read more