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Costa del Sol |
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Artist Guillermo Vargas - Habacuc |
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LATELY, a number of emails have been doing the rounds, condemning the actions of the artist, Guillermo Vargas ‘Habacuc’.
Last year, the Costa Rican ‘artist’ is alleged to have paid some children to chase and catch an abandoned dog. He is said to have tied the animal by a very short rope to the wall of an art gallery in Managua and left it there for several days, without food or water, until it died.
During this time, many people visited the art gallery, paying absolutely no attention to the torment of the dying dog.
Photographs of the so-called exhibition can be found on the Internet.
The prestigious Central American Biennial exhibition incomprehensibly decided to consider this barbarous act as art, and Habacuc has been invited to repeat his cruel action at the Biennial of 2008 in Honduras.
In his defence, the artist has claimed that what he was attempting to prove was that those who saw the suffering of the dog just walked on by and that if it had been left on the street to die, no-one would have even known of its existence.
It has also been reported that the dog did not die but escaped, and that it had been fed by Vargas and was only tied up during the gallery opening times. It has not been possible to confirm this.
The Managua exhibition attracted worldwide attention and many people believe it to have been an act of cruelty rather than art. A petition has been started in an attempt to prevent Habacuc’s involvement in the 2008 Biennial and from repeating the spectacle.
If you would like to sign the petition, visit: http://www.petitiononline.com/ea6gk/petition.html |  Return to Top
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Opinions |
 09 05 2008 - Luana Ouverney:
This act is disgusting and if this is art, i don´t no what is an art exposition and what is your bedding. This artist would have be severely punished about your action!!!!!
07 05 2008 - Connie:
Alicia, were you actually there at the gallery, did you see anyone feed the dog, and did you see the dog on untied himself and run away... for someone who only did their research from wikipedia and igroned all the pics and videos posted out there, you don't have the rights to call anyone a hypocrite but youself.
07 05 2008 - Alicia:
He fed the animal and showed the dog in the gallery for 3 hours to highlight the plight of these street dogs. No one pays attention to the dogs in the streets and now suddenly everyone is talking about it.
What hypocrits. Do you do anything when you see such a dog on the street? He fed it gave it water, showed it in the gallery for 3 hours then it ran away. Do your research people. Check wikipedia at least!
07 05 2008 - lynn:
To think that in this day and age of civilization and humanity, someone can actually consider starving another living thing to consider it ART!
It's disgusting and shameful on the Costa Rican population for endorsing and allowing this to happen in a public place for all to see...
06 05 2008 - TrulyTragic:
Wow that is just disgusting. I personally could not have attended that art opening without trying to help set that animal free. I can't believe all those people in the background sipping wine and such while that poor animal is laying there dying. Just blows my mind. I would have been put in jail for trying to free that animal.
05 05 2008 - Bertha Fox-Dominguez:
I am horribly disturbed by this. I believe this story to be true from the photographs that I have seen.
Evidence the fact that this dog is tied in a gallery space with no place to go, not food or water. And no place to go to the bathroom. The dog looks like it is dying to me.
Please sign the petition. I have also devoted space for you on my personal blog. Please visit me at www.icatharsis.com
04 05 2008 - Chris:
Let's remeber that we don't really know what's happened here. Until we do, let's give the artist the benefit of the doubt.
For all those kind and compassionate "animal lovers" out there who proposed swapping a human being for the dog, maybe you should look up the word "hypocrite" in the dictionary.
04 05 2008 - tess:
no, it's not the fact that he is in an exibition it's the fact that he is tied and he can do nothing to save himself.
04 05 2008 - tess:
and he says that the dog would eventually die. But what? Don't we all going to die? Lets kill people because in 50 years they ll be dead so whats the diffrence from dying now or then?? Oh but the dog was ill?? Oh lets starve to death a person with cancer because anyway in a month or two theyll be dead so at least they serve an "artistic" purpose. Of course if that person is someone i like i would reconsider my acts.
03 05 2008 - Otto:
Guillermo Habacuc Vargas is a terrible human being who tries to justify his actions for killing an innocent dog as "art".
Seriously this man is no different than Hitler with the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp for the Jews by allowing this dog to die of starvation.
I never have met this man but if I did I would like to give him a piece of his own medicine by letting him starve for a few days and feel the pain that this dog felt.
Dogs have feelings just as humans do. Please stop this man if you have any feelings of sympathy for this poor dog who died of starvation while people just walked by and starred like idiots.
03 05 2008 - Comment::
What I don't understand...is with all the people who visited this "exhibit" how come NO ONE saved the dog before it died?
The artist is a heartless cruel SOB...but so are the visitors who looked away and went home to their daily lives without giving the dog a second glance...how sad for that poor animal. He deserved so much better.
03 05 2008 - jiannis:
Guillermo Vargas should punched but and the people who going in this gallery i think had serious problems dangerous.
Me too i want be artist i think my first artistic picture should be fingers of Guillermo Vargas.....
is it art Guillermo Vargas??
if is it yours why not mine ;)))))
03 05 2008 - ACE:
This is an outrageous display of cruelty. The shame of it is that this poor dog would have most likely become Vargas' best friend had he had he been human enough to care for it and nurse it back to health instead of starving the poor animal and putting it on display while it suffered. The same should be done to him. He is not fit to be allowed in the human race!
02 05 2008 - kathy:
If I ever thought I was disgusted before this takes it. The Artist and everyone who watched should be tied to a tree and left to starve. I really mean this.
02 05 2008 - ndeanna:
I own and operate an animal rescue. Just because the dog would have died on the streets is not the point. The point is, he took the dog in, he had a responsibility to care and provide for that dog from then on. The fact that he allowed that poor dog to die and that all the spectators did nothing is a crime. They should all be punished.
01 05 2008 - wendyhalcyon@aol.com:
ANYONE WHO IS WONDERING IF THIS IS TRUE, I CAN ASSURE YOU AS AN ARTIST MYSELF, IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE!! IF YOU EMAIL ME I CAN SEND YOU PHOTOGRAPHS & FOOTAGE OF EVERYTHING THIS POOR SWEET CREATURE SUFFERED BEFORE IT DIED,
WITH OUT COMPLAINT IT ACCEPTED AT THE END ITS FATE & AFTER ESCAPING ONCE, ITS WIRE HARNESS WAS CONECTED TO A LIVE ELECTRICAL SOCKET, TO PREVENT IT CHEWING THROUGH & ESCAPING, IN THE PICTURES YOU WILL SEE OTHER ARTISTS, DIGNATORIES & VISITORS, EATING, DRINKING, SMOKING & LAUGHING, THEY ARE SICK INHUMANE BASTARDS, AS IS THE ARTIST WHO MADE A FORTUNE FROM THIS SICK, SO CALLED *WORK OF ART* NYONE WISHING TO ATTEND & PROTEST & THIS YEARS EXHIBITION, PLEASE CONTACT * Kit-Cat Pet rehoming & Sanctuary * ON THE ABOVE EMAIL
01 05 2008 - Sniper671:
It's amazing how many comment's state what harm they would do to the artist, without validating the actual event of the exhibition from start to finish. Look yourself in the mirror and see the monster you are. You are no better than the people at the exhibit who are supposedly doing nothing to assist the dog. In fact, you are tremendously worse.
Use common sense people and realize the genius that was his exhibit. Dog food and a "starving dog" used to create controversy and open minds.
"You are what you read"
Written in dog food. Because it proves that food was available, but you (readers) don't want to believe that. You only want to believe what you read is an act of great cruelty.
A supposedly starving dog. Genius. The message is even more enhanced with his use of visuals. You (again the readers) see with blind eyes the lie, but not the truth within the lie.
Ignorance is the most populated education taught in todays society. Only few will realize the truth and learn to react when reacting is truly necessary.
01 05 2008 - SadHumanity:
If any of you saw this dog out on the street none would help him. The artist was attempting to explain that the world does not care about anything but themselves. The dog would have had the same life out on the street but since a man did it for fame it is now "shameful". I highly doubt any of you would take in a stray animal... atleast he did.
01 05 2008 - Caroline:
What extremes are people going to go to next especially this inhuman artist in the 'name of art'. That dog was a living creature who hurts the same way we do. The last memory that dog has is a bunch of sick b&%$ds standing around him while he starves to death. Those people should be ashamed of themselves.
30 04 2008 - Flaps:
Rest assured vargas, if you ever set foot in Oz you would be hunted down and treated to a similar fate. I believe alot of people would gladly pay for this pleasure and all proceeds raised would go to a worthy animal cruelty fund.
30 04 2008 - mj3224:
Their are stray animals everywhere in the world. Yes, in some places this is an issue, in others not so much. Overall, the majority of these stray animals will die on their own. Once again, on their own.
I have seen some artists in my life so far that do express their art through their crazy and absurd ways. In regards to the horrible life they had lived, the wrong paths they chose, all the suffering they have been through.
I believe this is, in fact, necessary for them. Do you really believe this the way to express it?? I just can't agree ;)
On that note, I would like to close with the following perspective
A Vedanta perspective
There are five reasons that human biengs suffer......
Not knowing the true nature of reality.
Holding on to that which is insubstantial, therefore not real.
Fear from/ fear of that which is insubstantial, not real.
Identification with a false and constricted habitual self, which we call the ego.
Fear of death
All other causes of suffering are somehow or another related to the five. In fact, all of the five reasons are contained in the first. Therefore, the reason we suffer is not knowing the true nature of reality.
29 04 2008 - Jenni:
Is there any conclusive evidence as to what the circumstances actually were?
Everything I've read on this story so far seems to be hearsay and conjecture, I've found nothing from anyone who attended the exhibition.
29 04 2008 - M-NYC:
There are so many hopelessly ignorant & naive comments here. You can't believe this and you can't believe respectable institutions would do that, and blah, blah, blah. Are you 5 years old? Do the good guys always win?
The dog DID die--THAT's how it escaped! The dogfood was out of reach of the dog. Why didn't anyone feed it? BECAUSE THEY WERE STUPID ASSHOLES TRYING TO BE "COOL". The "artist" posted comments, then deleted them. After terrorizing and running Natividad down in the street, why not put a swift, merciful end to a misery-ridden life? Oh nooo! Let's watch the thing starve with food just out of reach. If you need that to make you think about how most people only give a damn about themselves, then you are one of THEM.
I was at an art opening a few years ago where the stupid twit had goldfish suffocating in tubes to show how her Middle Eastern brethren were oppressed. I only bring up the ethnic issue, because she missed a big point--she was not in her home country, not showing in a place where smaller living creatures were considered to be without feeling or the right to live. She really did not get that what she was doing was awful.
So how was she proving HER point? In which ass did the gallery have its head up? Who knows! At the opening, though, most just watched the fish die as they swilled their wine and babbled about nothing. I called the SPCA and they made them remove the surviving animals. Stupid Twit replaced them with fish-shaped orange foil.
This Vargas "artist" and the Honduran freakshow are doing some serious purging, backtracking and rationalization now. The petition will top 1 million tonight.
One of the judges is/was head of Latin American Art at Christie's here in NYC. So they will not back out now & have assured everybody that no animals will be hurt. Ooooh, yeah!
A word about dogs and cats that have starved for a long time--feeding them regular food for a couple of days will not alone save them. Usually, the dehydration is so severe that fluids must be injected. A week without proper fluids can be lethal. There are so many other complications--perhaps Natividad did not stand a chance to survive. There could have been other illnesses present. The right thing would have been to put her out of her misery, not prolong it and put it on display for other idiots.
Oh yes, I live in New York and no, the rats do not eat the dogs--more ignorance, indeed. We have very, very strict leash laws here and stray dogs get picked by animal control immediately. If nobody claims them within about a week or 2, unfortunately, they are euthanized by injection. We still don't have no-kill because there are too many to house.
Same for the zillion cats they pickup. There are still plenty of alley cats, because cats don't need licenses. We do try to rescue to "safe" homes for dogs and cats that are obviously abandoned pets, trap/ spay/neuter/release for cats that are obviously feral. Many times, people feed them just as they do in the country. The ones in my neighborhood look like healthy farm cats and do not have babies anymore.
It's no more dirty here than most other places--not that we need any more stupid tourists roaming the streets and saying even more stupid things when they get home. Please stay away and go elsewhere!
29 04 2008 - patty2vo:
Yes the bigger picture. Yes what Vargas did is unspeakable but lets not forget the country in which it took place in and where. Managua, Nicaragua museum. This place and it's operator's should be held accountable as well as the "artiest" for such a cruel act. And like it or not money talks and if as a whole we boycott this place and it's museums believe me you they will listen and I hope NEVER allow this to happen again.
28 04 2008 - Ruben Aram:
I see no other reason, then "Habacuc" is insane person, or he just wanted others to talk about him. Others are definitely talking about him. Many many years will others talk about him like about cruel, barbarous & totally idiotic imbecile. Well done Mr.Habacuc, now your are world-famous imbecile!
28 04 2008 - Anna J:
This is disgusting and my heart is breaking - hoax or not! This needs to stop and the 'artist' needs to be replaced with the dog and we should watch him starve to death instead! I cant believe anyone would be so cruel and cold, and this is absolutely disturbing and immortal!!! Please, let's do something to put an end to this right now!!!
Hey you - so called "artist" - why don't you get a real job and do what artists actually do, instead of finding innocent animals as your prey to find fame & fortune!! You're pathetic looser and you need to get your head checked, because you are not normal you freak!!!!
27 04 2008 - Doghead:
Now I'm not sure if this is a hoax or not. I suggest we don't boycott the exhibition, and we all take some hidden food and water with us when we go. If the point is "people just walk by" then we shouldn't. Feed the dog!
27 04 2008 - Nick:
Maybe he should replace himself with the dog in his next exhibition at least then people would have a positive response to his "art"
27 04 2008 - Jane:
This initially shocked me until on further thought I realized the artist is in fact reflecting what is the general attitude of the society he lives in towards animals.
v This incredibly insensitive act of 'art' was not only accepted in
vthe art gallery, the viewers and the government but also won a prize. While I am very upset by this act of the artist I feel the main target here of controversy is the country that allows this act.
Because yes, be sure there is neglect and cruelty every where there.
vThis is not to place blame or attack them. They (the government, the society at large), need help to become aware, because only a lack of awareness could allow such happenings to occur.
I pray and ask that light and love may go out to this country and all the countries where similar attitudes are held towards animals. To all animals everywhere.
26 04 2008 - responsiblepetowner:
The news story reports that this art event occured, yet others report that the event may not be verified. This may not be an issue of if the art exhibit actually took place. Perhaps the real issue is that companion animals suffer every day and do die. Whether or not the exhibit was shown, people walked by and didn't do anything—animal cruelty does take place, all over the world. To educate people on how to be responsible pet owners is our only hope.
IF the picture of this suffering dog is painful to anyone, they can excercise their right to voice their concern by signing the petition.
After that, share your thoughts about responsible pet ownership with a friend, a child, anyone that is willing to listen. Be a Pet Mentor to someone.
Commitment, Responsibility and Love are the cornerstones of pet ownership and a lifetime of love with our animal companions whether they are feathered furry or finned.
v
Visit us on the world wide web at: the Responsible Pet Owner.com to learn how we are dedicated to helping parents and their children understand that pet ownership is a lifelong commitment to care for and love an animal.
26 04 2008 - carlos:
I would love to spend 10 minutes alone with this piece of shit, what do you epect from a heartless morron, I hope are paths meet one day!
26 04 2008 - A of USA:
I'd like to say that people are getting sidetracked by some ignorant statements made by "USA > you" and missing the overall point.
First of all I don't know anyone who would actually create a nickname claiming the US as elitist; I think most, if not all of us realize we've had quite a few embarrassments in the past 7+ years and are not well viewed internationally so the last thing we would do is create such a nickname or express such an attitude.
Even if "USA > you" is actually an American as claimed (which I strongly doubt) I'd like to point out that many Americans do not feel that racist trash like him or President Bush are our true representation. And we hope the international community can see that.
My other point is that we are on a tangent. The point is whether we are to condone or petition this sort of action. Whether it truly happened or is a farce I think we all agree it is immoral and therefore signing a petition would serve no harm.
Thank you.
26 04 2008 - Beatriz Azul:
The last comment displayed is truly valuable and worthy of respect. I agree in that I do not know the veracity of the project, yet what has been quite evident is that most comments come from anger and not remorse, this is where we are wrong. It is not time to be angry and insult whomever, however.
- I JUST saw a video on you tube that mixed the US President´s address with pictures of US soldiers in Iraq not only mistreating and disrespecting the Iraqi people but also holding a small puppy and throwing it up and out about 20 feet I don´t think he made the fall, and I am quite confident about the veracity of this video - I am not here to judge, but rather to attempt illustrating that it has been an act of blind faith in the human race to create such a "hoax" or real performance.
It needs to be appreciated for its value in terms of what it communicates about the world today. Art is not only about making the world a more beautiful place, it is also about illustrating realities that at times we are not able to see. I feel the reality we were unaware of at this time is not about how we treat a starving dog. For he is a small victim compared to what we are doing to each other and the planet as a whole. How many times have you expressed more than anger to a stranger?
Or treated someone as less valuable simply for the color of their skin or the language they speak or just because you do not identify with this person? It is simple, we are all equal, we are creatures of this world, and we need to start treating each other as such. We are ALL in true need of love and acceptance. Love yourself a bit more and love will start emerging from everywhere.
If we want to make a change we should start from there. "I love and accept myself" say it, say it a million times, in your mind and from your heart and the world around you will reciprocate. I am not talking about egotistic or selfish love but rather, simple acceptance of who and how you are. Think about it, if you do not love yourself no one will love you as you truly deserve to be loved. And in this world, it all grows from there.
I love you, and have faith in your beauty and goodness.. please share and nourish it, for yourself and others.
sb
25 04 2008 - Dale:
This is one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen. Someone should stake Senior Vargas out and let him starve.
25 04 2008 - lotalotta:
This artist and anyone who viewed the "exhibit" should be ashamed. There is nothing artistic about it.
25 04 2008 - anonymous:
I'm appalled that any decent human would allow such to happen and let it be called art. This world has turned into an evil cruel place that I no longer like. Animals are innocent and ask for nothing but love. This so called artist should be starved to death and I hope and pray that no one steps up for the low life. There will be a special place in hell for this evil person.
25 04 2008 - _j_:
When I first heard the story/saw the pictures I instantly was overcome with horror and disgust. I googled the artist and ended up right here, where I have spent the past hour or two reading the comments that have been left here. I got to a comment left by "Jim." In his comment there's a link to a video on the subject.
The points out that there is no proof that this animal was starved to death in this gallery. Even the Humane Society of America reports on their website that the dog was there for 1 day and there was food present.
In fact the phrase "You are what you read" was spelled out with what? Anyone? Yeah, that's right DOG FOOD. I'll say it again, DOG FOOD!!! I don't know maybe it's just me, but with that being said can you honestly say that there was no food?
I personally have owned dogs in my life, as well as known others who have as well. I know from experience the lengths that a WELL FED dog will go to to get to the people food their owners believed to be out of reach from their pets. Dogs sense of smell is incredible. There is no doubt in my mind that this animal could smell the food on the wall in the gallery, and looking at the very few images of the "exhibit" I find it hard to believe that the dog was there for days in a room where he could smell food yet there was not a scratch on the wall from attempts to free himself.
Did this really happen? If so where is the proof? All I really see is a bunch of blogs, and the facts seem to change from blog to blog to the point that I do not view any of them as a credible source of information.
It seems to me to be a brilliantly planned hoax, one that I fell for for a short period of time. I too jumped the gun and signed the petition without first looking into its validity.
The phrase "You are what you read" should have been the first clue that this was a hoax. People are too quick to jump on the bandwagon, create a scapegoat, and form an angry mob. I am guilty as well, like.
I said I signed the petition too. The more I use my brain and think about it, and review the evidence, or rather lack of, I start to see what is possibly one brilliant hoax. We haven't had one of those for a good while.
If 'Habcuc" really did starve this animal to death then yes, that is absolutely horrible, but I have to remain sceptical that this indeed happened until there is credible evidence proving that it really did.
It looks to me that in the end the point that the artist is really trying to make is that people so often ignorantly believe everything they read, and act upon it as if it were true.
I feel that the curator(s) of the biennial would not condone the sort of animal cruelty and are in on the hoax. Think about it, would such a prestigious event really want to tarnish their reputation in this manner? I personally don't think so. I think they are waiting to say gotcha haha, while also raising awareness that there are so many homeless, sick dying animals on the streets that do need our help.
To this I say brilliant, only a true artist could be so creative. Even if this is not a hoax (which I hope it is) we could all learn a lesson from this about ignorance, and I would like to address one poster in particular. USA > you are you dumb and racist? umm yeah.
First off, I have been to New York City. It is a filthy place, where there is probably not a problem with stray dogs because the rats eat them all. Second of all the gallery where this took place was in Nicaragua, try reading next time. It takes a special kind of ignorance to turn an act of animal cruelty by a small group of people into an excuse to make racist remarks towards an entire country, the wrong one at that.
This arrogant mentality is why most of the rest of the world hates our country. How can you make such rude combative comments, and sign off using the word peace?
25 04 2008 - Elena:
Eventhough I don't think this was the best or ethical way to show his point, I understand Vargas' message. First of all, central america is a poor region. Resources are so scarce that there are children working on the streets to help support their families and without the opportunity to get an education.
Seen starving animals died in the streets is something ussual, not because people is cruel over there, but becuase the majority of the people don't have enough resources.
The major powers of the world know there is people and animals starving in other nations, but no one cares. It's until these news get into media, that everyone start putting an eye on them and talk about ethics. But when the media stops reporting everyone forgets while people and animals continue starving.
25 04 2008 - anonymous:
this took place in Nicaragua where humman right are violated everyday where the president of that country i a murderer omongs other horrific things where you not only see a starving stray dogs all over but starving children walking the streets and none does nothing they just walk by just like at this horrible art show wake up people start taking action human and animal right are no to be violated anywhere please speek up stop turnig the other cheek Nicaraguenses have done that for to long its time to take a stand!!!
24 04 2008 - James:
No one has the right to lock up another living creature, if it was going to die in a natural way, so be it..that also does not stop you as a person making a desicision to help another being, i have helped a number of sick animals, sick people and know that even if they are on their deathbed, a little love and caring helps their passing and on occassion it can bring them back and they survive. Ok so the artist made a point, but he did torment it with food within its reach and had it locked up and it is simply abuse and he should now be punished for it.
I myself am an artist and know that art is something from within, there is no reason he could not have expressed his opinions in a way that doesnt involve unwilling members. If i found the artist and decided i wanted to make a point and locked him up to starve would that be ok with all you who say it was right? that animal feels pain and emotion just as every one of us.
I truely hope he and anyone else who imposes themselves on other beings will be shuned and made an example of what we as human beings are NOT about. I for one will not ever be seeing the Central American Biennial exhibitions, i feel it is an absolute disgrace.
24 04 2008 - CHANEL:
I GIVE MONEY TO POOR PEOPLE AND I FEED THE STARVING STRAYS I SEE IN EVERY COUNTRY I HAVE BEEN TOO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE THINK I AM MENTAL BUT I DONT CARE COZ I AM HELPIN THEM ANIMALS IT DONT COST ALOT TO FEED A DOG AND IT DONT HURT TO HELP ANYONE NOONE OR NO ANIMAL SHOULD BE SUFFERING IN THIS WORLD IF THE RICH WOULD JUST STOP WORRYING ABOUT THEIR DESIGNER CLOTHES AND POSH DINNERS THEN WE WOULDNT HAV TO WORRY ABOUT SUFFERING, IF THE GOVERNMENTS WASNT SO DARN CORRUPT WE WOULD ALL BE OK IT DONT COST A THING TO GIVE ANYTHING WHY CANT EVERYONE STOP FOR ONE MINUTE AND SEE THAT IF EVERYONE HELPED THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR SUFFERING ANY WHERE!!!! LOOK INSIDE YOUR HEARTS AND DO RIGHT FOR ONCE... I AM DISGUSTED BY HUMANS TODAY NONE OF YOU DESERVE LIFE WHY YOU WASNT GIVEN IT I DONT KNOW... SERIOUSLY CHANGE YOUR WAYS OR THE WORLD IS GOING TO END IN ONE BITTER SAD ENDING....
24 04 2008 - Reb:
to dmppdks:
You have written hundreds of hundreds of words, in which you repeatedly call people who care about this dog stupid.
I say YOU are the stupid one - you've written so much, yet you've only made a couple of points which you have repeated over and over. You say those of us upset by this should get a life rather than sitting in front of our comps...what about you, haven't you got anything better to do than write huge essays that repeat a few points over and over?
Would you think this was acceptable if a dying child had been tied up on display? No, didn't think so, and it shouldn't be any different for a dog.
24 04 2008 - Eddy:
What a bunch of hypocrates.
The people shouting the loudest are doing NOTHING about the real problem. Stray dogs, human starvation. You crucify the messenger. Instead of looking truthfully at the problem.
You probably live in a nice house with more then enough food, do not give money to beggars let alone a stray dog. They are left to struggle for life for the duration of their life and then they die.
Hypocrates, up to the very last one of you (including me). Look at yourself before you go to bed tonight, think about all the stray dogs, dying children in Africa and ask yourself if you are doing anything to help their lot??? 99% of you would be ashamed of yourself, now you take it out on this man. Shame on you!!!
24 04 2008 - 0614:
A post from a friend-did not compose the following letter. I believe it was composed by a British artist. I am reposting it and encourage you to examine it and do something about it. Read on, as more information follows the letter.
EXHIBITION IS TAKING PLACE AT:
info@madc.ac.cr
Centro Nacional de la Cultura
Antigua Fábrica Nacional de Licores.
Avenida 3, calle 15/17. San José, Costa Rica.
Teléfono: (506) 257 7202 / 257 9370
Fax: (506) 257 8702
SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND THE GALLERY:
I am writing regarding the horrifying actions of Guillermo Habacuc Vargas, who paid local children to catch a dog on the street and then confined, starved and publicly displayed the dog as an "art" exhibit until the innocent animal died of starvation.
I, along with many people worldwide, am outraged that Guillermo Habacuc Vargas has been selected to represent Costa Rica in "Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008.” This man is by no definition of the word an artist. He is a criminally insane sadist and enjoys inflicting prolonged suffering upon his innocent victims. He is a danger to all of society, as it is well-documented that those with the capacity to intentionally cause harm to an animal have the same capacity to harm humans. To state that this animal would have died eventually of natural causes is unjustifiable and defies logical, rational thought.
To allow Guillermo Habacuc Vargas to represent Costa Rica in Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008 will in no way benefit Costa Rica. The world is watching, and the actions of this so-called artist have brought many negative assumptions as to the humanity of the people of Costa Rica. The fact that many witnesses of this animal’s suffering did nothing, and that the organizers of this event allowed this to happen, rather than taking action to see that Guillermo Vargas be criminally charged with animal abuse, is sending the world a message that Costa Rica is a cruel, uncivilized society that has no regard for life, but enjoys viewing and contributing to the loss of life.
Each and every person who knew of and witnessed the suffering of this innocent dog is guilty of causing its unnecessary death. To let this crime go unpunished, and instead to reward Guillermo Vargas by choosing him to represent Costa Rica in Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008 is unacceptable and shameful, not only to Costa Rica but to all participants in this event.
I urge you, do not condone the heinous actions of Guillermo Vargas by allowing him to participation in Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008. He should be jailed and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for this animal’s death, and should not be allowed to represent Costa Rica as an artist, for to refer to him as such is an insult to all true artists.
Sincerely,
Your Name
ANOTHER GALLERY SHOWING HIS WORK:
This is the email address to a gallery which currently holds some of Vargas' work for display and sale. If anyone would like to ask the gallery to drop him from their list of artists the email address is below.
Email address: info@jacobkarpio-galeria.com
INFORMATION ABOUT EXHIBIT
What he says on his blog (translated):
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. During the exhibition some people requested the freedom of the small dog, which the artist refused. 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 dogs: sooner or later they die or are killed.
VIEW AND SIGN THIS PETITION:
http://www.petitiononline.com/13031953/petition.html
HERE IS HIS MYSPACE PAGE (Guillermo Habacuc Vargas):
http://www.myspace.com/casitadetentaciones
24 04 2008 - xdustinx:
Paragraph 2, Sentence 2: Keep this sentence in mind...
Paragraph 7: It has not been possible to confirm this? So you haven't been able to confirm if the dog didn't die and was fed? It was worthy to note that that wasn't confirmable... Now, had paragraph 2 been confirmed, then the allegations in Paragraph 7 would be turned from "not confirmed" to "that's a lie". Henceforth, the allegations of the dog starving to death are not confirmed either. But it's not important to note that, is it?
There are no source citations... just enough to pull other alleged bits off of other news websites without source citations and a link to a petition.
Here's a great idea, folks, how about instead of just believing an incredible allegation like starving a dog as art... why not actually pay attention and try to do your own research. This is why people are so fucking stupid today...
24 04 2008 - Vernetta Lopez:
To the Organizers of Biennale,
I implore you to look at the so-called logic of your artist Guillermo Habacuc Vargas, who says that his art work shows how “In my home city of San Jose, Costa Rica, tens of thousands of stray dogs starve and die of illness each year in the streets and no one pays them a second thought.”
If that dog had been in the streets, at least it would have had a chance of finding food somehow. This way, it had no chance of surviving at all.
Art cannot be at the expense of life; whatever the message.
Then he could in the same vein say that there are too many homeless children in the streets and to show how there is apathy for them, let’s tie one up and let him die.
It a stupid idea and its not art.
If people in the streets do nothing in the streets, they will also do nothing in the museum. All is does is show that the country is full of socially unconscious people.
Plus he keeps changing his statement from one reason to another as the reason for this abuse.
You cannot allow a dog to die on purpose to make your statement heard. Its just dumb.
v
Do not allow him to continue with this sort of abuse to showcase ‘art’ for the sake of an ideal. Its NOT ART.
Even as a protest, people don’t hurt others for the benefit of their cause!!!
He has no argument, no basis for logic, nothing can defend what he did. So please do not allow this abuse to continue. Please do not invite him back to your art festival.
If you were to invite him back, you only sully the name of art. You damage the name of your festival and the name of art itself.
Thank you for your consideration.
Vernetta Lopez
Singapore
24 04 2008 - DLSC:
And just how is this considered "ART"?
24 04 2008 - another brick:
art:
1. the products of human creativity
2. the creation of beautiful or significant things
(http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=art)
For everyone who says this is not art, I strongly urge you to take a closer look at the definition.
Despite the abstract nature of his piece, his message is crystal clear. We should not concern ourselves so much with his singular act of cruelty but rather focus all this attention on the real issue: starving animals. If we stop him, does the problem not persist? His controversy has got people talking. There's buzz about starving dogs, but the real problem is on the streets, not in art galleries. By stopping him, we will have ultimately done nothing.
To the petition supporters and writers, why not take your actions a step further? You seem quite involved in the process already so further your cause by petitioning all of animal starvation on a global scale. If not for Vargas, would you still sign/write a petition such as this?
I own three dogs myself and take pride in their health and well being. I do not support animal cruelty (and for that matter human cruelty), but I do support Vargas’ message.
24 04 2008 - MARGIE:
THERE ARE WORSE THINGS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD I KNOW THAT. BUT INNOCENT ANIMALS CANNOT SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES. AND NO MATTER WHY OR THE OUTCOME, THIS IS BARBARIC AND HE IS A THOUGHTLESS MONSTER. MAY HE MEET HIS MAKER ONE DAY SOON.
24 04 2008 - anonymous:
Not true, do some research.
24 04 2008 - Jam:
If the dog was going to die on the streets anyway fine thats the natural order of things, so let it happen as nature intended it, ON THE STREETS. Don't bring the poor creature in, tie it up and make its agony some sick pleasure for you and all of you're heartless followers.
This isn't art, its not exibitionism, It's cruelty. You're trying to portray agony and death and argue that oh it would have happened anyway. Fine, there are starving children in 3rd world countries who are going to die anyway, would you tie them up and watch them die for "art"? Or did I just give away his next project?
The animal feels the same pain a human does but because it cannot verbalize it it's feelings are deemed less important.....
24 04 2008 - +Big:
I'm really so sad and disappointed to hear that artist doing such cruel thing. Please please please stop that!!!!
24 04 2008 - notgeorge2:
Here are some points to ponder:
Did anyone try to protest while this dog was on display?
Who cleaned up after this dog during its time on the floor?
Why wasn't it barking and going nuts in this exhibit?
Why was this dog on the streets to begin with?
In my opinion, if we jump all over this artist for "torture" and such, we must first blame everyone who witnessed this act and could have stepped up for the dog.
24 04 2008 - ongsljeff:
I am truly ashamed of this man, an artist who starved a dog to death as art is a disgrace to the artist community. Art is to express life, to bring joy and hope to the people.
Not to promote death and agony. This world has lost it's true sense of life and living, it is killing the earth and the people living on it and the animals as well for the sake of pleasure, fame, fortune and power.
I love humanity but i hate the people living in it. A living animal is to be respected for they have a role to play in our world to bring balance to the laws of nature which governs this earth.
We as humans are not above the law, for this man Guillermo Vargas Habacuc , he is guilty in the charge of cruelty to animal and also should be charged guilty in the humanitarian court for promoting death and agony to a world that is striving to live and preserve earth as a place of living, not death and agony.
24 04 2008 - Kay:
It is sad for me to think that there are people who feel that the best way to make a point is to put on pedestal the very thing they claim to be against.
Keeping a defenseless scared animal tethered and on display lacks compassion. People who saw this dog on display and did nothing should be equally ashamed.
24 04 2008 - To: dmppdks:
Read dmppdks comment before!
I have a reply to all your questions ok??
It dosent matter if the artists intention was not to kill the dog, the fact is that if a dog is in that state it should not be tied up without water, food and somewhere to sleep for hours on end!
There could've been something done for that dog, ITS CALLED RANGERS!! in case you dont know what that is, i'll explain, They take homeless dogs and FIND THEM NEW ONES!!!
Sure dogs in wild can go without food for days but this dog is CLEARLY NOT WILD it is domesticated, meaning it needs humans support to survive!
You can clearly tell that the artist didnt feed the dog, look at how thin and weak it is! USE YOUR EYES!!
The dog probably did die because what would this "artist" want with a dog he had just starved half to death, as if he would go through all of that and then just let it go to suffer more! If he was truely trying to prove a point he would help the dog in the end!
Sure we can provide food and shelter for a homeless dog but did he have to say that by torturing an animal????
The "artists" intention was to show people that there are many starving dogs sure, but must he show this in a inhumane way??!!!
You dont put a dog on display to the world if you could've been doing good rather than harm, by getting that dog what it needed. And of course dogs die on the streets but they are NOT TIED UP and treated as a exibition. If this so called "artist" wanted to portray the awful deaths of dogs on the streets DO IT THROUGH A FIKEN PAINTING OR SOMETHING NOT PUTTING A DOG THROUGH THE PAIN OF BEING WATCHED TO DIE!
These people commenting are not "lemmings" as you say, they are acting upon the cold hard facts....THE PICTURES (As the old saying goes pictures say a thousand words). And even if no-one had commented on this each person that came across this issue would act as they did. Its natural instinct to feel sypathetic about something being tortured.
How about YOU think dmppdks!
24 04 2008 - jdornl:
I must admit this is definatly the wrong way to go about proving a point and DEFINATLY should not be repeated
BUT
i dont think that he had all these horrible ideas of hurting the dog i think he just went about his exhibition wrongly... Since he has the fame now why not try holding an exhibition in a park and putting out LOTS of food and showing the people who come to see it just how many dogs come out of the shadows to feed... then not only do you get a very strong msg across but hey you give the poor dogs a meal or 2. i'm pretty sure you're going to shock an 'art fan' a lot more if they are suddenly surrounded by 50 odd stray dogs than watching one dog die...
24 04 2008 - Sarita:
People are trying to justify his act by saying that humans would not have noticed or cared about the dog if he was left in the streets.
Well...what about animal shelters and organizations that try to give abandoned animals a home? There are people out there who cared about this issue way before this disgusting sadistic "artist" mercilessly watched a poor animal die a long and painful death by starvation.
To be honest, the dog probably would have gotten enough food on the street to at least stay alive, which is better than being forcefully starved-- albeit its life would not have been wonderful.
P.S--the bystanders who went to see and support this exhibit it are just as deplorable.
24 04 2008 - gsjksdl:
it shouldn't matter his intention or what he was trying to prove.
an act of cruelty is cruelty.
the end.
now, hopefully it's just a rumor.
hopefully, it's not true at all.
but if it is true, then that is not art.
how about you paint a dog being tied to the wall?
or a sculpture that's huge that no one can miss?
or a collage of photographs of these poor animals in the streets?
that's art.
and that's saying something without any physically controversial action.
the most powerful type of art.
24 04 2008 - minnie81:
Question... Was anyone in that neck of the woods, did anyone go see the exhibition, obviously some people knew about it when it was going on... Nobody stepped in with a pair of wire cutters and took the dog to a vet, or turned up with food for the dog...
Given what the guy was trying to put across albeit in a rather alarming fashon, does anyone think he'd have stopped you if you tried to help the dog?
As for hunger organisations... show me an organisation where the MAJORITY of my money will go where I intended it and I'll put a deeper hole in my big red bank balance.
Where I live there are plenty of con-artists and plenty of beggars, the problem is telling them apart...
23 04 2008 - hypocrite?:
Here's the thing, even though i've signed the petition, and repulse what he has done, what vargas did still counts as art. I also find it necessary to add it was a good piece. Art is never supposed to conform, art is supposed to be a creative expression of one's ideas, it's supposed to make people think.
Whatever Vargas' intent in this was is erroneous, but the fact that it has stirred up this much controversy and that it has gotten you people thinking means it was a successful piece. Maybe nowadays it takes something like this to get us to look introspectively, and identify all our own faults.
23 04 2008 - cejUSA:
I am horrified and appalled by this and I hope this disgusting man who by the way in NOWAY is an artist endures the most horrible death and pain in this world and beyond!!!!!!!!
23 04 2008 - Nick:
There is no doubt tat this was a horrible, cruel act, but issue death threats on an internet blog is not going to help anyone. Guillermo Vargas Habacuc should not be put to death. He was attempting to bring a grim subject to peoples attention, and he has done so. Also, hes not the only one behind this.
He didn't just chain and starve a dog for his own personal enjoyment. He brought this terrible idea to a museum, where he had to convince museum owners and art directors to even hold this exhibit.
Also think about the condition of this dog, he didnt starve it until it was thin and sick, he simply showed it in the terrible cruel state he found it.
This was nothing more than a very misguided attempt to bring attention to a problem. Unfortunately, now instead the attention has been shifted to all of our hatred towards Guillermo Vargas Habacuc, instead of the real issue where it belongs.
23 04 2008 - Sian:
This is not Art. This is exploitation and cruelty.
23 04 2008 - To: dmppdks:
dmppdks - Stop boring us with your useless information and get a life or a brain for that matter. You really have no idea what this is about do you!!! It is people like you thank try and think too hard and don't have have the .... to do something about it - why cos they love the sound of their own voice!
23 04 2008 - ishwa:
this is god awfull and is just so hard to watch. the love i wish the thousands of people that care could give him or her.
it so important to remember that this happens so much everywhere animals are tortured so mabee one day with so much helpwe can put a sop to this.
23 04 2008 - To all who say think:
YOU think:
Just look at the pictures, did the dog look like it was sick and about to die?
If it was really being fed, why did he died days after or why would it even escape?
Dogs die every day on the streets, but they are NOT tied up.
If I was to pass by its side I would have thought it had an owner and was being fed and would have kept going my own way. And even if the food was beside the dog I would have though it was there for the owner to give it to it later. (If you don't know many dogs are trained to eat at specific hours).
So in the conditions Gillermo had it no one would have suspected it was being starved to death.
Even if it was left to go, it was CRUEL just to leave it without food and to PREVENT it from trying to find some for days.
Although he "allegedlly" "tried to prove a point" and YOU say people are doing the FUZZ because it was done on an exibition and wasn't on the streets.
The FUZZ is not totally about that dog being starved. It is more, actually, because he "Supposedly" is going to do it again.
So do YOU people that said that the others should think and rationalize, have YOU?
Think about it and let me know.
I DO think Guillermo Vargas ‘Habacuc’ should be tied up, and that he should be stopped from doing it again.
YOU may have convinced many people, but your "jedi mind tricks" won't work on me, they only work on weak minds.
If YOU want to refute and write a message to my attention just write "To Jedi Apprentice" and May the Force be With You, Always.
23 04 2008 - Nu:
Art? I am disgusted that the artist thought of this as art and the organisers allowed it. This should be a criminal offense and not taken lightly. I believe in kharma and this is one of those moments that i know kharma will shine on through. That poor dog.
23 04 2008 - anonymous:
Hmm...no one argues with you that suffering is an inescapable fact of the human condition.
But by your reasoning (regarding cruelty and sadism as central to life), would it be okay if we tied misfortunate children up and starved them to death in order to make a public statement about suffering and society's indifference?
This "artist" is only creating more suffering to show us that there is suffering in the world....It doesn't quite make sense, and we really don't need an art installation to tell us that.
Zenbuddha77, I hope you find a healthy outlet for the underlying aggressive impulses you seem to possess.
23 04 2008 - psychologist:
most people with antisocial behaviors start off like this then they start killing people and call that fair.
23 04 2008 - Kit:
Animals, like children need help in protecting themselves. His reasoning in not feeding the animal: that is was going to die anyways. Is like saying we shouldn't treat cancer patients.
There's ALWAYS hope- even if it's for a short time, that animal could have been fed and loved. All of the rescues and volunteer organizations out there prove that there are SOME people out there that care enough to act.
If you've posted on here and never volunteers or done something to better your society- you're just as hypocritical as he is.
23 04 2008 - Wolfmoon:
The cruelty is in fact Vargas took the poor thing from the streets,tied it up to where it could not fend for itself. If the dog was indeed on the streets and not tied up natural instincts kick in and it being an animal in need would more than likely survive unless illness or in fact something living would have taken its life.
On the streets the dog could have found scraps of food and water. Being tied up without access to these things did indeed kill the dog and I think he needs punished.
Don't kill him,but let him see what 4 days without food and water feels like and then maybe he'll do something artistic by saving a starving dog or animal.
23 04 2008 - JT:
Shame on the artist. Shame on those who walked by. Shame on each of us for doing nothing about world hunger. So, get off your can and give to a World Hunger organization. Now.
23 04 2008 - jude:
thats so wrong words cant even describe how wrong it is
23 04 2008 - lah:
i dont really agree with the public torture the poor animal has to go through, but i am forced to acknowledge his reasoning as factual, human beings can be the most uncaring, cruel creatures around!!! just goes to show that we are all sinners that need saving=). rather then make the problem worse why doesn't he do something about it?!!!
23 04 2008 - littlelady:
The dog was able to stand and move about, there was every chance to save him, put him on an intravenous drip for a few days at the vetinarian's and rehabilitate it... "The Dog was going to die anyway" what utter utter rubbish.
22 04 2008 - zenbuddha77:
Cruelty is holy and sadism sacred to the human condition! And I for one applaud the dual non artistic meaning of the vAG-ass exhibit, as well as everyone sending Jan through Dec jokes, 365 days a year, to every financial and governmental institution in the world...one thought filled terrorist message after another...all in his honor!
22 04 2008 - Rae B:
This is the most disgusting article I have ever read. This artist should be exposed to the same fate that he allowed this poor defenseless dog to suffer. Shame on the people who actually witnessed this display and did NOTHING...
22 04 2008 - Holldoll:
As an artist, I am disgusted with this TALENTLESS and CRUEL display. His justifications are completely off base. His title as an artist should starve and die as did this poor dog. ANyone can kill, it takes a CREATOR, not a MURDERER to create art. Shame on him and those who allowed this attrocity to occur.
22 04 2008 - Nomad:
Ok, regardless of whether the dog was fed after hours or not, the point is that the dog was on the street and he had a chance to scavenge for his own food and survival, but the so called artist chained him to the wall, denying the creature of any chance of scavenging.
If the dog would have died on the street, then the laws of nature would have played out-survival of the fittest, but this obviously wasn't the case. IS it true that there was food and water and nobody fed the dog? The gallery director, the "artist" and everybody that attended the opening or anybody who saw the show is responsible and they have their own conscious to deal with. What is really sad is how much exposure the "artist" and gallery are receiving.
Every day 10,000 children die of starvation...everyday. Should we tie up a starving African baby to the wall of a gallery to do something about it? If the richest nations gave 0.07 percent of their GNP, extreme poverty would be done away with....why isn't there a petition going around to get these governments to do something about this?
22 04 2008 - stephanie:
I know what a lemming is. I do not lisp and pronounce "sensitive" incorrectly. I am not 45, Nor am I bored. I am not sure that I am even angry, just very, very, saddened that there are such sick people in this world. If indeed this is true, shame on the gallery, shame on the sick monster who perpetrated this abomination. Shame on any person who walked by and did nothing.
Where was the "Good Samaritan?" If this poor darling animal had been left to scavenge at least he would have been able to scavenge, and not have had to suffer the cruelty of people walking by and ignoring his plight. Did he lack dignity in his death-I think not. It is the humans who did this who have no dignity, no love, no soul, no hope. There is no justification. None.
And no justification will give the perpetrators peace in their hearts. Maybe this is the fitting punishment. And incidently-no, I would not walk by a starving dog in the street.
21 04 2008 - stray:
if he does it again, why don't any of you haters go to the gallery and feed the poor dog ?!?
that would make you an artists
21 04 2008 - Natalia:
This is the foulest most inhumane thing I've ever heard. He was not trying to prove a point. He's a worthless moron. He used something "sensational" to gain some fame. Repulsive. Repulsive. He says the animal was going to die anyway. So he killed it in a worse way? Hypocrite.
21 04 2008 - ManRay:
What an incredibly profound piece of art. All of you who call this sick are bourgeois pricks. Remarkable numbers of human beings die every week in third world countries because of war, famine, and poverty.
None of you are protesting that. Instead you're protesting the death of one miserable dog who belonged to nobody. Use your "humanitarian" attitude to a productive end and see where the real problem lies...
I think the artist's point is proven.
21 04 2008 - Terrence:
I think the real kicker of all of this isn't the fact that the dog was tied up, it's the fact that not one person attempted to free or feed the dog while it was on display. Do you think the dog should be freed? gather a group of people together and cut the rope! you think it should have been fed? find a way to force feed an ailing animal, bring it food! bring it water!
In a world where unreasonable human death is increasing by the nano second, stories like this neither surprise me nor encourage my faith in the human race.
the artist is probably right, the dog most likely would have died un noticed on the streets and none of you fine folks would have batted an eyelid at it, but since it died how it probably would have died in public view, it's torturous and cruel.
v I am a dog lover and have owned dogs throughout my life, but the artist makes a strong point, and that point is that the majority of the people who scream out against this exhibit are hypocrites.
21 04 2008 - James:
On his blog he states that the dog died the day after his exhibition, so it didn't escape.
21 04 2008 - Liz:
KATZ: Guillermo Gomez-Pena and Coco Fusco locked THEMSELVES in a cage. They did not let the challenge/burden of their art fall upon another being. Think a little harder.
21 04 2008 - Wow:
To everyone yelling monster etc, why don't you just walk into the gallery and set the dog free, or at least feed it and give it water? I doubt anyone would stop you.
21 04 2008 - j:
why did people just stand there and let it happen? they're just as bad
21 04 2008 - Emma:
Even if this was art, it would not be acceptable.
21 04 2008 - Wen:
"During this time, many people visited the art gallery, paying absolutely no attention to the torment of the dying dog. "
Why didn't these "many people" feed the dog? Bring him some food if they cared so much. I highly doubt anyone would have stopped them.
Isn't this what the artist tried to convey?
-Look around, we are all monsters.
I didn't say that its right, but he sure proved his point.
v
Also, much worse things happening in the world right now. Sign a petition about that.
21 04 2008 - 1stpklosr:
Good to know that people can sit behind their computers and type their souls away. Everything that lives, will die. If you have a problem with it, then do something about it. Typing your emotionally drained statements on the afterthought of an article is pretty cathartic...
Have a wonderful day planet Earth!
21 04 2008 - checksa:
GO FEED A HOMELESS PERSON
then you have the right to freak on this artist. you all are just a bunch of talkers until you are actively help
21 04 2008 - Jimz:
Looking through the comments I see two sides to this. One says "He's horrible! Put him in jail! Monster!" etc the other says "You're all lemmings following a trend. You just care because it's popular media. It's not wrong it's art! What about other animal and people?"
Well I don't understand this artists logic in showing off whats already all over the world. People see it every day yet care less and less as it becomes more common. Sure I'll go find a homeless man and put him in a cage and take pictures of him dying.
Then I'll win a prize and fame hahahahahaha yay me? Heh' Nope. I don't think he should have won an award for something any idiot could do. Also I on't feel his art was even that good. Basically it sucks and was a waste of a dogs last days.
On the other hand people need to chill focusing on this dog and calling the guy a monster. Instead of looking at this why don't you go walk out into the city and find a lost cat or dog and help them because I'm sure this guys gonna redo this anyway no matter how many of you sign the petition.
So instead of hidng behind computer screens yelling for justice for one dog which may not even be saved, go help more then you know you'll get here by helping those who actually are within your grasp.
...
That is all.
21 04 2008 - lyssa:
it makes me sad to see so much ignorance. no one thinks for themselves anymore.
21 04 2008 - Leroy Morte:
Guillermo Vargas is not an Artist, he is an self-aggrandizing, attention seeking monster who used cruelty to a poor animal to achieve notoriety and fame.
21 04 2008 - exadverso:
I read that the artist who, is said to have sarved the dog, is 50 years of age. That would mean that he would have been born in the (Chinese) Year of the Dog, I wonder if he knows that?
I have to agree with dmppdks on the main issue here - did he starve the dog to death or was it a stunt?
It would be wise to find out before calling for his head....and remember Gandhi's advice....'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.'
I hope the dog survived. If the dog was allowed to die, I cannot condone it, even if it was done with what the 'artist' believed where honourable intentions....the same effect could have been achieved by employing a smarter method. My advice would be to put down the gun and pick up the camera.
Ignorance is the enemy...and the truth is our salvation, because the truth exposed can change world opinion for the betterment of man and womankind.....Like the artist Jamie Reid said; Peace is Tough, so get off your arse and do something POSITIVE about it to bring about the change.
21 04 2008 - TTTT:
Save yourself. The world would, I think, be a better place without people trying to save it all the time.
What the artist has done, indeed, seems unnatural in our time. Yet we kill animals every day. Were indigenous peoples "barbarians" for sacrificing animals (before Europeans wiped them out), or were they just doing what was right for them? So this artist sacrificed a dog to his god of art. Would I? No.
But I still eat meat that has been disemboweled alive, drive a car from time to time, and own clothes which probably were made by children who will be crippled by their labor. I'm trying...
Save yourself. That should be work enough for one's life.
21 04 2008 - laura:
If there are laws against Animal Cruetly (which I think we all agree this is) and this is allowed, what is to stop him from doing this to a child?
He obviously has the mental capability of letting a living creature starve to death.
Will officials wait until he takes a homeless child off the street, locks him in a box and watches him starve to death.
21 04 2008 - tamlyn:
I am an animal lover. and I also love art. I think it was terribly cruel of this artist but if the dog was living on the street in the first place how much longer did he have to live anyways?
I mean its like he went out and bought a puppy and starved it. no. still its not a very good thing to do but.. sometimes you have to do dramatic things do get peoples attention.
21 04 2008 - Caroline:
There is absolutely no excuse for torturing an animal, even in the name of education. Yes, there are people suffering in the world but adding animals to those numbers can never help the situation.
Honestly, would you ever see a starving dog and think "oh well, there are people dying all the time, so I'll just ignore it"?.
Give me a break! If you think that, then why the damn hell don't you feed the dog, release it so it can have some freedom, and then actually DO SOMETHING for the people out there who are also suffering??
Whatever happened to leading by example people?! Instead of starving a dog to death maybe this 'artist' should actually get out there and make a difference!
My guess is the proceeds of his so called exhibition didn't go towards any charities! Instead Vargas grows richer thanks to these sick publicity stunts.
He is a pathetic, repulsive sadist who will one day have to answer for his crimes - I wonder how long he will last before he begs for more mercy than he ever showed that innocent dog?
Do me a favour. Get off the computer and go and do something for the world, and I guarantee you in the first five minutes you will have done more good than Vargas can ever hope to achieve.
21 04 2008 - 82212:
do some studying you idiots, yes he was invited to represent costa rica, but he is doing a completely unrelated piece. Costa Rica has laws against that type of art and it is not being allowed.
21 04 2008 - Will:
Its sick. He shouldn't have taken it out on an innocent dog, irrespective of the moral statement that he was trying to make.
If he was in England he would have been arrested on an animal cruelty charge
21 04 2008 - heather:
my whole point if the dog was on the streets it could have atleast found food somewhere but being tied inside a building it had no way of getting food !
21 04 2008 - Jim:
You all may want to check out this video about the case: http://video.nbc10.com/player/?id=241333
21 04 2008 - Noldy:
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated - Gandhi. And the 'greatness' of this 'artist' can be judged im months to come by his overweening exhibitionism and the sour taste left in the mouth. He has changed nothing, achieved nothing, the merit, or otherwise, of any of his other works is overshadowed by this cheap sensationalism, this meaningless petty tyranny of a small soul, and probably smaller talent.
21 04 2008 - Stace:
A truely disgusting, monsterous man who deserves nothing more than the fate he imposed upon that poor animal.
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