Last Wednesday, a Hong Kong businessman bought Andy Warhol's portrait of Chairman Mao for $17.4 million at a Christie's auction, making it the most expensive Warhol ever sold. Previously, the record was held by his "Orange Marilyn," which auctioned for $17.3 million by Sotheby's in 1998.



Michiko Kakutani disembowels the new Pynchon novel here.



Thanks to Julie at Eluvium, I bring you the Book/Cut Sculptures of British artist Su Blackwell:

Alice. A Mad Tea-Party
(2006)

Magnolia
(2004)

from The Snow Queen Series
(2006)