Sneaker blog SlamXHype blogged about this a few days ago.
“Last year, Guillermo Vargas Habacuc, in the name of art, took a dog from the street, and starved him to death. Endorsed by the prestigious Visual Arts Biennial of the Central American, Habacuc has been invited to repeat this unbelievably cruel act again in 2008. We at SlamXhype stand with Arkitip Intelligence in boycotting this ‘artist’ and urge you to sign this petition to end this right now.”
Meg Onli is a visual artist and blogger born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Meg moved to Chicago, Illinois in 2005 where she received a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has been with the Chicago-based art and culture podcast/blog Bad at Sports since 2006 where she is currently the Associate Producer. She has an unfathomable apatite for documentary films, 60s & 70s performance art, and cute cats. Meg has exhibited work in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City. Currently, she is working on a project that documents her steps in recording Motwon’s first girl group sensation, the Marvelettes, version of “Where did Our Love Go?â€
Latest posts by Meg Onli (see all)
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this is horrible and disgusting
Coyle– I’m sure the theory-geeks will have a ready dollop of sophistry to excuse starving an animal to death…. My own rule is , once your ‘process’ involves killing something it stops being art.
Sometimes … one despairs of the species
this man is cruel and disgusting // this is not art this is animal cruelty /// and the prestigious Visual Arts Biennial of the Central American should be ashamed of themselves // he should be tied up in a gallery and starvrdto death for the sake of art see how much he likes it //
Fucking disgusting.
YOUR DISGUSTING AND SHOULD BE TIED IN A CORNER TO STARVE AND DIE.
Ashley do you mean Mark is Disgusting? Because gross would be fair… but disgusting is hitting below the belt.
The artist gives us all the creeps.
From what I’ve read, there seems to be some obfuscation as to whether this story is true or not, beyond the artist having brought a dog already starved from living as a stray into a gallery. Any reliable news sources actually confirm anything more than that, i.e., that the artist did verifiably act to starve the animal? I’ve not seen a shred of evidence in the few pieces of news I’ve read and am curious to know what really happened.
yeah i’ve been checking out this story and there does seem to be some confusion as to the facts. theres a bit about this on artnet that seems to deny his inclusion in the biennial and gives a different account of what actually happened to the dog. some reports state that he tied the starving dog up for the opening but then fed him afterwards….either way, it still seems cruel and wrong.
I think Brandl is just mildly revolting, but then I personally am outrageously repugnant to gaze upon, so who am I to criticize?
Many things along with sick behavior are being called “art”. Habacuc endorced by the VAB of Central America are revealing their lack of consciousness and awareness. These kinds of acts are very disparaging to “real artists”. Dictionary; “artist, a person who uses deliberate skill in making things of beauty, esp. a painter, a person who uses skill and taste in any activity”. These people are using the title “artist” incognito…their real purpose is to pull society lower than most of us can conceive. So now is society expected to consider all atrocities in history, war and self proclaimed authority (religious or secular) as excusable or desirable because it was or is “Art”?
This is nothing more than animal cruelty, he should be jailed with the full force of the law against him. It should be stopped!
sign the petition!
I saw it today and made sure to post it on Buffalo’s cl – this is just beyond ignorant –
But maybe the artist is “testing” his audience, forcing an issue out there to be addressed? I don’t see the beauty or necessity in suffering. So I doubt this was his intent. Who is this “artist” anyway? No one could save this dog?
can’t someone just buy the dog?
Not very intriguing as an art piece. It’s an unfortunate and vain attempt for the artist to get attention. Extremely cruel and unfair to the animal.
But why are people writing that the artist should be tied up and left to starve? What sort of solution is that?
That is fucking disgusting!! I don’t care if he did have the dog tied til after the art show. He could have still giving it some fuckin water and then givin him food. That pig and all of the spectators in the gallery need to be tied in a corner and starved to death. They don’t even deserve jail time. Then we would have to pay for there food!!!
That artist needs to know what it feels like..Then maybe he will think twice about doing it again. Then again if he got the same treatment then he would never be able to do that again….
This reminds me of the viral ad for the Ford Sport Ka that was on the web a few years ago where a cat was decapitated by the sunroof of the car. The ad was created by Ogilvy & Mather for Ford Motor Co. UK.
To add insult to injury, Ford only apologized for it being leaked onto the internet and not for doing it in the first place.
They were trying to show that their 3-cylinder shitbox was a badass.
May the vile people involved in these incidents choke to death on their own blood.
Who cares if the facts aren’t all crystal clear? Even if the dog was already starving, why not take it in and feed it, instead of putting its suffering on display for no good reason? This ‘artist’ should be tied in a corner and starved. What would that solve? One more person who is cruel to animals would be gone. In order to be that callous and cruel to such a helpless animal, a person would have to be cruel in every aspect of their life. What would the world say if he found a starving child and tied IT up to die? I’m sure there would be consequences then. But what’s scary is that this person probably wouldn’t see anything wrong with it. It would just be for the sake of ‘art’.
And as for allowing, no ENCOURAGING, him to do it again, and gain even more publicity and fame? Sickening. What has the world come to when we have no options left for entertainment and enlightenment but viewing the suffering and pain of a helpless creature? Art? I think not. Sounds more like a ploy to get attention from a sick, evil person. Not to mention the money it must bring in for the art show itself. A wonderful world we live in. If there were fewer people like this Guillermo Vargas in the world, we would all live better lives.
Please sign the petition. And do anything you can to help an animal. We have the means to help ourselves. They depend on us.
I am appalled and heartbroken that a fellow human being could have stood by and watched this poor animal die! The thing that separates us from animals is our humanity! This “artist” proves that this unloved, unwanted animal is more noble, more humble and more deserving of care and attention than some humans! If he was a real artist he might try to recreate this animals suffering on canvas but instead has taken neglect and called it his art. He’s a fraud! I could take a tree into a gallery and take credit for the change of the seasons!
We should not stop just at signing the online petition. We have to make sure that the relevant authorities & humane societies are made aware of this. Public should actually boycott this event, write to the organizers & report this “act” as a case of animal abuse. The “artist”, organizers & the establishment of where this event is going to be held should be handled & dealt by the authorities making sure that any animal abuse acts are not committed in accordance to their law.
According to the petition, the dog died the day after the photos were taken. In my opinion, this de-humanises Vargas, the promoters, and the puzzled onlookers.
Sarah– when you think about the number of people who could’ve stepped in and fed the dog , the cruelty of this becomes exponentially more sad.
It’s funny how a shot can transcend it’s context in a really profound way. There’s a picture from what appears to be the opening – it’s take from dog-level, and the poor dog is just in agony. In the background the culture vultures are sipping wine and trying to get laid.
Doesn’t this just typify everything wrong with the art world in particular, and Western culture in general? It’s even worse than the sycophantic vampires who would go to see people like Townes Van Zandt and Johnny Thunders in hopes that they’d see them get wasted.
Feh.
Guillermo Vargas Habacuc deserves the same end of his miserable life!
Shame on You, Giullielmo!
The bastards who run the ‘art’ gallery need their heads examined for allowing the ‘not’ artistic artist to run this ‘exhibit’ and for all the people viewing for not interveneing. Shame on All of them. Close the place down.
It’s a hoax. The dog was tied up and fed on a regular basis, and then escaped. Just like the abortion artist at Yale. You can’t induce an abortion with “herbs.” It takes an invasive procedure or RU-486.
Am I the only person who finds the name RU-486 hilarious?
Are You For 86 (-ing the bambino)?
Hoax — perhaps and perhaps not.
http://guillermohabacucvargas.blogspot.com/
Hoax — perhaps and perhaps not. Check this out:
http://guillermohabacucvargas.blogspot.com/
Hoax — perhaps, perhaps not. check this out:
http://guillermohabacucvargas.blogspot.com/
Guillermo Vargas Habacuc AND the Visual Arts …. person who approved this as “art” should be prosecuted and sent to jail for animal cruelty!!! I think Habacuc, as others have said, should be put on exhibit also, and starved to death!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry to say but I don’t care what anyone thinks. This is a perfect example of how freaking stupid other countries are. No wonder they all drown in their own stupidity. What kind of human being could do something like this. I am sick and tired of these so called “artist” and their crappy work and sorry excuses for art. Starving a dog is not art, in fact its only one step away from being someone like Jeffery Dommer. Thats how he started (look it up.) but I won’t leave the idiots out who stood around and watched, you sick freaks. No wonder this world is filled with violence and cruelty, its because it filled with stupid people. I am a huge animal lover and I couldn’t imagine a person who would act like this. What kind of country would let something like that happen, they have no authority over their people (big surprise) Yeah, I said it.
Does anyone have an email address for this ‘art’ gallery? I want to send them my own thoughts and let everyone have a chance to as well.
Some claim that the dog was already starved and it did not happen in the Art Gallery. That the dog was fed after the initial intruduction is nonsense, as the susequent photoes clearly show the dog’s gradual horrible deteriation. Those people, the artist, the gallery and the viewing public are worse than barbarians. No punishment meted out would be harsh enough. I can not forget those pitiful ,suffering, pleading eyes.
Checked some more websites. Habacus claims he only wanted to make a statement for people to see what happens to thousands of starving dogs on the streets of Puerto Rico. When he picked up the starving dog, he should have exhibited it on the opening day to show people what is going on, on the streets and than by feeding and rehabilitating the poor animal, to show what can be done.
We have been given the priviledge of caring for God’s creatures. This vile act shows the depth to whhich mankind has fallen.
rats traded god
dog ded art star
What does this have to do with the price and lattes in China-?
Can we not send this to Oprah? This may sound silly but it is cruelty such as this that needs to be recognized and she has the power to to enlighten alot of people.
Kim
so this is art huh? why then not starve a child and watch it die? would that be art as well? this man is serously getting away with murdering a dog for the sake of art? another great example of our wonderful justice system and it’s many flaws… were a man can starve an animal for the sake of art even while there are laws set to punish those who mistreat/neglect animal. WOW!
This was in another country. Was this the same country where they threw eighty dogs off a bridge to their death. it’s acceptable in certain cultures I suppose. There is also the puppy farms and dog fighting as well.
Does anyone know where the Visual Art Biennial of the Central American is located. I would like to set up a boycott of this countries products and try to put a dent in their tourist trade as well. Maybe they don’t care what American’s think, but if we can pull our dollars and let the country starve to death then maybe they will want to pay attention.
Please, let’s not be to hasty. I personally would like to invite the artist to dinner at my home, where he can explain his side of the story. I’m sure it’s very reasonable, i’m sure he has a valid and heartwarming story to share. And I for one am open minded enough to listen,,, before i push his ass down a flight of stairs and leave him there.
Porque no se amarra ahora El, para asi poder ver su deterioro corporal, porque de su alma ya esta deteriorado este hijo de su puta madre!!!…junto con todos los de la pinche “Galeria de Arte”.
Now Himself must to be tied, for let us see how is going to be his body deteriorated, because his soul is already deteriorated…everybody together, including the “Arts Gallery Staff”
it is terrible. this man is cruel and should be stoped. instead of just placing comments here, we should take any action we can to put an end to this. we should for example write directrly to the place where this will be repeated ( because i heard the dog died ) and strongly complain about it. also we should write to the Government where these exhibition places are located and complain. there is much we could do and i urge you to do so. i will certainly not stop here. just think of what the poor dog went through.there ”people” should be made to experience what these tortured animal suffered. then they would not do it again.
This is so sick it makes me want to go to this place and beat the crap out of this guy. im so sick from seeing this. how dare they. this need to be stoped fast. i look at my dog and think what if she was the one he did this too. it breaks my heart so bad. that mother F’er should die.
What kind of hurt has been inflicted on this monster that he could totally disregard a life and think nothing of it. And if he hasn’t been hurt, that’s even worse. One day….
um..you can induce abortion with herbs….i believe this thread is an idiot hypocrite..i love that dog as much as anyone but i don’t really believe the premise…i hope all these crusaders are out feeding starving dogs etc..eating no flesh etc..
So everybody has looked at the photo and the headline, become upset, signed the petition, blogged about it… and then had dinner. Don’t you feel righteous and fullfilled now that you’ve signed an online petition? Did it take much effort, or inconvenience you in any way?
The “artist” is really pushing a moral issue in our faces and is perhaps disgusted that we’ll only be upset when a dog is starving in an exhibition, but an abandoned dog is only merely annoying when it’s running loose, and preferably in some else’s neighbourhood. Just my guess, but it’s reasonably accurate.
Find out what the topic really is, before headlines jank your strings and your thoughts and immediate actions are determined by a story editor somewhere else in the world. Think for yourself, not what the headlines or every preceding blogger lays down for you.
http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/news/artnetnews/artnetnews4-17-08.asp