I searched for that topic and found nothing so here I go.
Guillermo Habacuc Vargas. He's the artist that took a dog from the street, tied it in an exhibition room and let it starve to death while visitors calmly observed the faith of the poor creature.
"In August, 2007, Vargas displayed his "Exposición N° 1" in the Códice Gallery in Managua, Nicaragua. The exposition included the burning of 175 pieces of crack cocaine and an ounce of marijuana while the Sandinista anthem played backwards. The work also included an emaciated dog tied to a wall by a length of rope with "Eres Lo Que Lees" ("You Are What You Read") written on the wall in dog food. The work attracted controversy when it was reported that the dog had starved to death as part of Vargas's work."
"Juanita Bermúdez, the director of the Códice Gallery, stated that the animal was fed regularly and was only tied up for three hours on one day before it escaped. Vargas himself refused to comment on the fate of the dog, but noted that no one tried to free the dog, give it food, call the police, or do anything for the dog. Vargas stated that the exhibit and the surrounding controversy highlight people's hypocrisy because no one cares about a dog that starves to death in the street."
"The outrage triggered by the photos and the allegations that the dog had been left to starve to death quickly spread internationally via blogs, e-mails, and other unconfirmed sources, including internet petitions to prevent Vargas from participating in the 2008 Bienal Centroamericana in Honduras that received over four million signatures. Vargas has endorsed the petition, saying that he, too, has signed it."
And here's what the artist says about it:
"I knew the dog died on the following day from lack of food. During the inauguration, I knew that the dog was persecuted in the evening between the houses of aluminum and cardboard in a district of Managua. 5 children who helped to capture the dog received 10 bonds of córdobas for their assistance. The name of the dog was Natividad, and I let him die of hunger in the sight of everyone, as if the death of a poor dog was a shameless media show in which nobody does anything but to applaud or to watch disturbed. In the place that the dog was exposed remain a metal cable and a cord. The dog was extremely ill and did not want to eat, so in natural surroundings it would have died anyway; thus they are all poor stray dogs: sooner or later they die or are killed."
I first heard of that story some time ago. My initial reaction was "That's repulsing, demented and sick!". I was angry at the artist. I was just reminded of this story again and this time I actually thought about it. Well, now I'm angry at us people (myself included).
You know good art is something that makes a point. Well this masterpiece does make a point. We have turned into fucking puppets. We do nothing unless someone tells us to do it. We are trained to obey like sheep. We are completely indifferent to the suffering of others even when they are right there in front of us. What makes me even more angry is that even if I was one of the viewers I wouldn't have moved my finger to try and report what's going on. I would feel bad about it but all I'd do is to observe, just like everyone else, regardless of how sickening it was. Jesus fucking christ, I wouldn't be surprised if we let a human starve to death in 10 years time. Our society is so rotten we actually turn suffering into entertainment.
I kinda don't understand the people saying "OMG the artist is so cruel - stop him and save another dog". Well, the artist is making an effort to wake people up from their vibrant color dreams and show them how fucking covered in shit they all are. Changing people may really make a difference, saving a dog and preserving the social misery around it will make non.
I mean I do realize causing people to care is what he strives for, but people should think about it, at least. I'm actually glad I saw that thing. And yes, I do think it's a masterpiece.
Do you?