How to hang art and shock people (three life-size dummies of barefoot boys hung from tree)

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | May 7, 2004

[dead]

Eerie sculptures of three boys hanging by nooses from a tree in a busy Milan square have shocked passers-by and angered some local politicians.

The three life-size dummies of barefoot boys, their necks roped to the tree and their bodies limp, stared dully into the distance, drawing double-takes from onlookers and front-page stories in major national newspapers.

"It's horrendous," a woman named Paola told Reuters Television. "Look how it's given me goose bumps. My God, but why?"

The sculpture was the latest by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan to spark controversy.

His works have included a sculpture of Adolf Hitler kneeling in an empty room in a Munich museum and a likeness of Pope John Paul felled by a meteorite.

"Even if it's for a good reason, I find it frightening, especially for a child or sensitive person," passer-by Alessandra Pieroni said.

City councillor Stefano Di Martino was one of several local politicians to condemn the work, calling it "a way of letting out people's sick fantasies".

But the artist told La Repubblica newspaper that to him the boys were "almost angelic" and that he was trying to "give a warning about childhood and about violence".

"Childhood, this strange place where traumas happen and you dream incredible dreams, is a place I always return to," he said.

The exhibit, set up on May 5, will run until June 6.

Reuters

[dfwgator]

What a sick bastard.

[b4its2late]

Pope John Paul felled by a meteorite.

How special.....

[stainlessbanner]

This is so inspiring < sarcasm >

[steplock]

It's called "C. R. A. P."

The govt should not ban it - but they should also NOT stop any insulted Spaniard from hanging the artist from one of those branches since he enjoys that view so much.

[Enterprise]

Yeah it's art, but it's dreadful.

[jalisco555]

Michelangelo weeps.

[dead]

It fails my art test - if I can do it just as good, it's not art.

[C210N]

This Art has alot of potential. Maybe the artist should be given a government grant to continue his work...

[Alouette]

They're white boys, so it's "art." Otherwise it would be a "hate crime."

[Beckwith]

If I burn a cross on your front lawn and call it art is it truly art?

[AD from SpringBay]

This no doubt enraged the Arab world.

[tdadams]

I wonder if yelling "fire" in a crowded theater would now be considered art. This is pretty much doing the same thing - creating a public panic.

[Arrowhead1952]

Where is the outrage from the muslims and the dumbocrats? Is this SEC of Def. Rumsfeld's fault too?

[askrenr]

Isn’t Milan in Italy, sort of south of Torino, in the Lombardy region?

[ColoradoSlim]

Garbage vomited out of a sick mind. Cattelan as well as his trash belong in a land fill along with Mapplethorpe and Andy Warhol.

There are so many fine, talented artists are producing beautiful work, why does this jacka$$ get a blink of attention?

[50sDad]

Again, Garrison Keillor said it:

Happy people do not need to make art.

[millefleur]

They're white boys, so it's "art." Otherwise it would be a "hate crime."


I had the exact same thought when I saw the picture.

[Hodar]

There once was a time where 'artists' had respect. Then again, there once was a time when the profession of art was worthy of respect.

[The South Texan]

I don't get it with some people. Hanging Dummies from trees is shocking, but the burned bodies of Americans hanging from bridges in Fullajuah, Irag is not shocking. Can somebody please show those pictures in the American and world media?