Secular Humanist News: Bidders go Bananas for Art by Congo the Chimp

SunTimes.com ^ | June 21, 2005 | AP

[Matchett-PI]

LONDON -- Monkey business proved to be lucrative Monday when paintings by Congo the chimpanzee sold at auction for more than $25,000.

The three abstract, tempera paintings were auctioned at Bonhams in London alongside works by impressionist master Renoir and pop art provocateur Andy Warhol.

But while Warhol's and Renoir's work didn't sell, bidders lavished attention on Congo's paintings.

An American bidder named Howard Hong, who described himself as an ''enthusiast of modern and contemporary painting," bought the lot of paintings for $26,352, including a buyer's premium.

The sale price far surpassed predictions.

"We had no idea what these things were worth,'' said Howard Rutkowski, director of modern and contemporary art at Bonhams. "We just put them in for our own amusement."

Congo, born in 1954, produced about 400 drawings and paintings between ages 2 and 4. He died in 1964 of tuberculosis.

His artwork provoked reactions ranging from scorn to skepticism among critics of the time, but Pablo Picasso is reported to have hung a Congo painting on his studio wall after receiving it as a gift.

"There's no precedent for things like this having been sold before," Rutkowski said. AP

[Matchett-PI]

The latest Secular Humanist popculture fad; collecting paintings done by their ancestors, some of whom, apparently, are still alive.

[GaltMeister]

But while Warhol's and Renoir's work didn't sell, bidders lavished attention on Congo's paintings.

Beaten out by a chimp - that's gotta hurt!

[Right_at_RiceU]

This really says something about libs and their modern 'art.'

[stylecouncilor]

[weegee]

What does Cheetah's autograph go for these days?

(and yes I have seen signed photos)

[the_devils_advocate_666]

How much would you pay for the Congo beauty?

[qam1]

HUH??

I don't see the term "Secular Humanist" or anyone reference the Atheism or Religion in the article and you altered the title.

[Matchett-PI]

"What does Cheetah's autograph go for these days?"

A dollar three ninety.

Secular humanists are narcissists who are only interested in what pertains to their own family tree.

Now if you had the autograph of the FIRST peice of slime, you would have something of priceless value to them. Hahaha

[Matchett-PI]

LOL

[Matchett-PI]

"This really says something about libs and their modern 'art.'"

They're to be pitied - they're in denial.

"Modern science was conceived, and born, and flourished in the matrix of Christian theism. Only liberal doses of self-deception and double-think, I believe, will permit it to flourish in the context of Darwinian naturalism." --Alvin Plantinga May, 1996 Darwin, Mind and Meaning - John A. O'Brien Professor of Philosophy - University of Notre Dame

[Matchett-PI]

bttt!

[qam1]

I don't see the term "Secular Humanist" or any one reference the to Atheism or Religion in the article and you altered the title. ooopps

[Matchett-PI]

The eyes are too small.

[Matchett-PI]

"HUH?? I don't see the term "Secular Humanist" or anyone reference the Atheism or Religion in the article and you altered the title."

I did not "alter the title" - I merely flagged the title as something that would be of particular interest to secular humanists. Do you know any other chumps who would be in the market for paintings done by chimps?

[MEGoody]

Nothing. I could make one of these myself.

[mvpel]

It's a sad commentary on the state of modern art when splatterings by a chimpanzee can net thousands of dollars. What does that say about the artistic merit of the splatterings of homo sapiens? What a racket.

[mvpel]

"English instructions ruined! Must ... use ... French! Le grill?!? What the hell is that????"

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"We had no idea what these things were worth,'' said Howard Rutkowski, director of modern and contemporary art at Bonhams. "We just put them in for our own amusement."

Run the hysterical laugh track.

[redgolum]

That's it, I am going to turn in some of my 2 year old niece's artwork and say Bilbo the chimp painted them. Should be able to pay off my college loans!

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Oh, no, I don't think it works that way. It has to be a chimp connected with someone in the...arts community. If it were paintings just by any old chimp... that wouldn't be quite the same. [irony, sarcasm] And,of course, it would have to be a chimp who has studied under someone recognized and approved by the arts community.