Dynamite Doug
by Brazen
For 50 years, Douglas Latchford was the world’s premier expert on Cambodian art, supplying priceless statues to Western museums and rich collectors. But his fame masked a dirty secret. Douglas had colluded with the Khmer Rouge, a genocidal regime, to loot Cambodia’s entire cultural heritage.
As the country descended into bloodshed, Douglas stole almost everything. A network of art world cronies were on hand to help him sell these blood statues, including a senior curator at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
When a band of art sleuths get on their case, Douglas and his co-conspirators mount a rearguard action to save themselves. This is a story the art world doesn’t want told. Unlike the Elgin Marbles, and other brewing controversies over stolen art, our story isn’t ancient history. This tale is happening now.
For more information, visit dynamitedoug.com. To learn more about looted antiquities held by the world’s most venerated institutions, check out thelootmuseum.com.
Dynamite Doug is a Project Brazen production. For more fearless storytelling, search for the Brazen channel on Apple Podcasts or visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds.
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Copyright: Copyright © 2024 Brazen
Episodes
Episode 2: Blood Statues
33m · PublishedWhen the genocidal Khmer Rouge takes over Cambodia, killing 2 million people, Douglas senses an opportunity. Amid the bloodshed, murderous generals rob the nation blind – hacking statues out of jungle temples – and Douglas is a willing buyer. A senior curator at the Metropolitan Museum in New York and a Denver-based academic are eager participants in Douglas’ schemes.
Don’t want to wait for the next episode? You can listen to the full series, ad-free, by subscribing to our channel on the Apple Podcasts app. Subscribe at: apple.co/dynamitedoug
Episode 1: Greatest Art Heist
25m · PublishedHow Douglas Latchford, a nobody from colonial India, makes a name for himself dealing in Cambodian art. It’s the 1960s, and no one cares about Westerners stealing ancient statues from poor countries to sell in London and New York. But, as attitudes start to change, gossip mounts about Douglas.
Don’t want to wait for the next episode? You can listen to the full series, ad-free, by subscribing to our channel on the Apple Podcasts app. Subscribe at: apple.co/dynamitedoug
Coming Soon, Dynamite Doug
3m · PublishedHow one man carried out the greatest art heist in history – the looting of Cambodia’s entire cultural heritage – with the aid of Western academics, dealers and curators. This is the story the art world doesn’t want told.
www.dynamitedoug.com
Dynamite Doug has 13 episodes in total of non- explicit content. Total playtime is 5:28:24. The language of the podcast is English. This podcast has been added on March 26th 2023. It might contain more episodes than the ones shown here. It was last updated on May 24th, 2024 06:40.
