American Museum curator detained at Istanbul airport with 1,500 spider and scorpion samples
American arachnologist Lorenzo Prendini was detained in Istanbul on Monday accused of attempting to smuggle dead spiders and scorpions out of the country. Prendini, a curator at New York’s American Museum of Natural History for more than 20 years, had the necessary research permits from the Turkish government but police at the Istanbul Airport ignored them. After officers found plastic bags filled with 1,500 spider and scorpion samples in his luggage, he was arrested and sent to make his case before a judge, who released him without charge. The incident was reported by Turkey’s Demiroren News Agency, which posted a video of police finding arachnids in Prendini’s suitcase. Prendini criticized the police for violating due process and trying to find him guilty in the court of public opinion. The American Museum of Natural History did not immediately respond to The Art Newspaper’s request for comment.
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Elara Voss, graduated from the Royal College of Art in London with a Master’s in Fine Art. She specializes in contemporary sculpture and installation art, exploring themes of nature and human interaction. Elara’s works have been featured in several group exhibitions across Europe, and she is currently working on her first solo show.