Mar 29, 2008
humans make me sad
I generally like to keep things pretty upbeat on my blog (promoting harmony and all that), but I was so horrified by this story that I had to post.
After catching a stray dog on the street, Costa Rican artist Guillermo Habacuc Vargas tied it up in a gallery so that people could watch it starve to death.
I am all for diversity in art, and art that forges new boundaries, explores new ideals, concepts, media (and I must admit it is quite interesting to read his justification and perspective on his piece in response to criticism) but this is somewhat obscene. Having said that, others questioned what was worse – him doing this to a dog, or the many people who walked by and witnessed this and did nothing.
What do you think? How far is it suitable to go for art? I am vehemently against censorship, but perhaps censoring art such as this could deter it from happening.
On another note, this is again an interesting example of the ability of the internet to disseminate information. I would never have heard of this in my paper or on the broadcast news. Yet protesters have managed to generate 158,409 signatures petitioning against the artist.
Feeling suitably incensed? Sign the petition here.