Great lies told
to humanity
Some lies are exaggerations, some are oversimplifications and others are outright falsehoods. It’s the latter that form HARI’s Greatest Lies Every Told Collection, an archive of whoppers that have left a deep imprint on society.
It’s essential to not forget these deliberate deceits—lies that have caused social upheaval, widespread suffering, and, in some cases, millions of deaths. This collection gives art buyers an opportunity to commit these lies to collective historical memory. Credits
Title
Edition
Big Tobacco’s Lie
100
Description
James W. Johnston, CEO of RJR Nabisco, submitted written testimony in a 1994 congressional hearing with an infamous quote, “Cigarette smoking is no more ‘addictive’ than coffee, tea or Twinkies.” Big tobacco was finally forced to run ads admitting the risks of smoking in 2017.
Title
Edition
Trump’s Election Lie
100
Description
Despite clearly losing the 2020 presidential election to President Biden (by a 306-232 margin in the decisive Electoral College vote), Donald Trump still falsely insists that he won and is the victim of voter fraud. This lie, supported by his followers, is fueling bitter division in American society.
Title
Edition
Pentagon Papers
100
Description
The top-secret report, leaked by an analyst to the N.Y. Times and Washington Post, showed that the U.S. government had systematically lied about the reality that the U.S. was losing the Vietnam War. The revelations deeply damaged public trust in political institutions.
Title
Edition
Iraqi WMDs
100
Description
In 2002, President Bush told the nation that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had chemical and biological agents, and was building nuclear bombs—weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The evidence used was false. In 2003 the U.S. launched war against Iraq that lasted eight years with great human and financial loss.