Watching a dog starve to death considered art?!

[alibuch]

n "artist" from Costa Rica, named Guillermo Habacuc Vargas, put a starved dog as a work of art, the poor dog died there, he did not want anyone give him food or water. This monster asked some children to chase the dog and he paid them for their dirty work to give him the dog.

In that event, (in which the dog died) he was chosen to represent his country in the "Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008", the petition site is to sign to boycott him , so he won't can participate in the event:

http://www.petitiononline.com/13031953/petition.html



http://www.marcaacme.com/blogs/analog/index.php/2007/08/22/5_piezas_de_habacuc
There are pictures of the so-called "art exhibit" at the above link.




This is so absolutely disgusting.

[Karen]

Yeah, It's pretty shocking that anyone could do that and call it "art", and that people would actually go see such a horrifying thing and not take the animal away or help him in any way...

I found an article explaining some of the conflicting reports about what actually happened, here: http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/vargas.asp. It also claims the artist's point was to show the hypocrisy in people's paying attention to a sick stray animal in the context of art gallery, when they would ignore one on the street. But could he not make this point with photographs?

The ASPCA issued a press release about this on April 24, 2008: ASPCA Responds to Public Concern Over Alleged Animal Cruelty by Costa Rican Artist (http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=press_042408)

Here are just some parts:


The ASPCA’s scope of work encompasses the United States. The organization is a member of WSPA (The World Society for the Protection of Animals) and supports their positions on international animal welfare-related issues. According to ASPCA discussions with WSPA officials, when Vargas was invited to compete in an art show in Honduras this year, WSPA and member society the Honduras Association for the Protection of Animals and their Environment (AHPRA) acted to ensure this cruelty could not be repeated by any artist. WSPA has also indicated to the ASPCA that it will strengthen its efforts to enact stronger animal protection laws in Nicaragua.


The ASPCA asks its supporters everywhere to advocate on behalf of animals through their own actions, whether that be by staying abreast of international animal welfare issues via information provided by WSPA, supporting national or local animal welfare organizations, or educating others in your own community on how to detect, and fight, animal cruelty.
To join the ASPCA in its ongoing fight for the humane treatment of animals, please visit http://www.fightcruelty.org/ and take our pledge to help fight animal cruelty.

Other parts of their response are interesting in terms of the cross-cultural aspect of the issue:

"The ASPCA is opposed to cruelty to animals of all types, in all societies,” continued Sayres. “However, it is also not the policy of the ASPCA to condemn entire communities or countries for the cruel acts of individuals. What we need to do collectively is to step up our efforts to educate the public on the humane treatment of animals, so that such events do not occur again.”

[alibuch]

Vargas, however, has been asked to do a repeat show at the same gallery...

[Karen]

I haven't read that he has any plans to do it again. Is that recent news?

[alibuch]

Yeah. I'll try to find the article again.

[rachaelg]

Hey.

Actually the dog was fed in private, after the show. But like mentioned it was just a stunt to show that people make a fuss about a starving dog in a museum. But not in the street. ALso, it was to see if anyone would do anything (no one did). But the dog was fed in private, and eventually released.

[alibuch]

Actually, the dog was starved to death. It died.

[Karen]

I just found an article about some controversial "art" at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Apparently, an artist put a bunch of different species from different ecosystems together (insects, spiders, lizards, etc), in an effort to (?) create conflict. Protests from the local animal rights groups got the exhibit dismantled, but the curator says she'd consider similar exhibits in the future.

You can read about the exhibit (Huang Yong Ping's "Theatre of the World") on this blog: http://griseldawept.blogspot.com/2007/04/animal-cruelty-at-vancouver-art-gallery.htm (http://griseldawept.blogspot.com/2007/04/animal-cruelty-at-vancouver-art-gallery.html)l (http://griseldawept.blogspot.com/2007/04/animal-cruelty-at-vancouver-art-gallery.html)

CBC news reported mainly the artist's side:
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2007/04/15/insect-exhibit-vancouver.html
(http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2007/04/15/insect-exhibit-vancouver.html)
and CTV reported more of the Humane Society's concerns:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070410/exhibit_bc_070410/20070410?hub=Entertainment (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070410/exhibit_bc_070410/20070410?hub=Entertainment)