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An Artist Took $84,000 in Cash From a Museum and Handed in Blank Canvases Titled "Take the Money and Run." He's Been Ordered to Return Some of it
CBS NEWS ^ | SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 | CAITLIN O'KANE

Posted on 09/20/2023 11:15:50 AM PDT by nickcarraway

Andersson said at the time that while it wasn't what they had agreed on in the contract, the museum got new and interesting art. "When it comes to the amount of $84,000, he hasn't broke any contract yet as the initial contract says we will have the money back on January 16th 2022."

But Haaning refused to turn in the money, according to BBC News. And after a long legal battle, the artist was ordered to refund the court 492,549 Danish kroner – or $70,623 U.S. dollars.

The sum is reduced to include Haaning's artist fee and the cost of mounting the art, according to BBC News.

When Haaning first pulled the stunt, Andersson said he laughed. "Jens is known for his conceptual and activistic art with a humoristic touch. And he gave us that – but also a bit of a wake up call as everyone now wonders where did the money go," he told CBS News in 2021.

According to a news release from Haaning at the time, "the idea behind [it] was to show how salaries can be used to measure the value of work and to show national differences within the European Union." By changing the title of the work to "Take the Money and Run" Haaning "questions artists' rights and their working conditions in order to establish more equitable norms within the art industry."

In a statement in regards to the court ruling, Andersson said: "We now have a judgment, and we will carefully examine it. There is a four-week period for appeal for both parties, and as long as the case can still be appealed, we have no further comments."

The stunt is reminiscent of Banksy, the anonymous artist who often leaves spray-painted artwork in public places, without leaving any other trace of his presence. In 2018, one of the artist's paintings – an image of a girl reaching for a heart-shaped balloon – sold for $1.4 million at auction – and immediately self-shredded in front of auction-goers the moment it was sold.

While the piece essentially self-destructed after the auction, it yielded yet another sale. The shredded pieces of canvas were sold for $25.4 million in October 2021 – a record for the artist.

Similar art antics have made headlines in recent years. A banana duct-taped to a wall at Miami's Art Basel in 2019 sold as an artwork for $120,000 – and then was eaten by performance artist David Datuna at the art convention.

CBS News has reached out to Haaning and the gallery that represents him for further comment and is awaiting response.


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Business/Economy; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: fraud; lol
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I am not a huge fan of a lot of modern art, but this seems legitimate. Look, John Cage had a musical composition called Silence that is four minutes and 33 seconds of silence.
1 posted on 09/20/2023 11:15:50 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: Republicanprofessor

What do you think?


2 posted on 09/20/2023 11:16:22 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

I LOVE IT.


3 posted on 09/20/2023 11:19:14 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: nickcarraway

Museums will pay stupid people a lot of money for vomit


4 posted on 09/20/2023 11:20:42 AM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: nickcarraway

We deleted meaning from art 100 yrs ago. Funny how the rules of logic keep following the trend.

I hear Senator Sue Collins, age 70, intends to imitate Fetterman by showing up in the Senate in a bikini.

Who wants to see Grassley in a Speedo?


5 posted on 09/20/2023 11:21:08 AM PDT by lurk (u)
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To: nickcarraway

Billy Joe and Bobbie Sue were unavailable for comment.


6 posted on 09/20/2023 11:22:08 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: nickcarraway

I think, good for him. He produced what they asked for.


7 posted on 09/20/2023 11:23:10 AM PDT by stevio (Fight until you die.)
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To: lurk

“Who wants to see Grassley in a Speedo?”

Hard pass!


8 posted on 09/20/2023 11:25:52 AM PDT by BBQToadRibs2
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To: nickcarraway

9 posted on 09/20/2023 11:26:17 AM PDT by shotgun
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To: nickcarraway

It’s better than a crucifix upside-down in a jar of urine.


10 posted on 09/20/2023 11:26:25 AM PDT by pax_et_bonum (“Killer rabbit jokes have a long tradition in medieval literature.“ - Dr. James Wade)
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To: nickcarraway

Current Communist Goals

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. “Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art.”


11 posted on 09/20/2023 11:27:17 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: HartleyMBaldwin

You know, they got away.

Headed down south and they’re still runnin’ today.


12 posted on 09/20/2023 11:27:30 AM PDT by one guy in new jersey
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To: nickcarraway
Here's my latest work of art:












grilled cheese with ham










13 posted on 09/20/2023 11:27:31 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: nickcarraway

Should have asked what kind of artist?

Scam Artist.


14 posted on 09/20/2023 11:27:35 AM PDT by DannyTN
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To: nickcarraway

And then they call the vomit “art” so suckers will pay to see it


15 posted on 09/20/2023 11:28:22 AM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: Telepathic Intruder

A wish sandwich of the highest order.


16 posted on 09/20/2023 11:29:46 AM PDT by one guy in new jersey
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To: All

is the artist a democrat or republican


17 posted on 09/20/2023 11:34:18 AM PDT by SteveH
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To: SteveH

Better...a satirist.


18 posted on 09/20/2023 11:35:14 AM PDT by one guy in new jersey
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To: nickcarraway

If the canvas had included the words “black lives matter” he would have been allowed to keep all the money.


19 posted on 09/20/2023 11:35:25 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Democracy dies when you take away from those who work and give to those who won't. Khrushchev.)
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To: All

Modern art is legalized money laundering


20 posted on 09/20/2023 11:48:34 AM PDT by escapefromboston (Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.)
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