Damien Hirst's mockumentary 'Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable' lands on Netflix to mixed reactions

Damien Hirst's mockumentary 'Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable' is now streaming on Netflix, drawing criticism from viewers who felt misled by its documentary format. The film, directed by Sam Hobkinson, presents a fictional story of the discovery of the wreck of the ship Apistos, owned by the legendary Cif Amotan II, which sank off the east coast of Africa in the first centuries AD. It was originally a companion piece to Hirst's monumental exhibition of the same name held at Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana in Venice from April to December 2017, which attracted 360,000 visitors. The project cost $65 million and took 10 years to produce. Social media reactions have been largely negative, with viewers expressing frustration at the fictional nature of the documentary. Meanwhile, Hirst is preparing a new exhibition curated by Mario Codognato, featuring a new series of spot paintings at Houghton Hall in Norfolk starting in late March.