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Is this pic offensive?
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Spacey Orange
Does anyone think that this pic is offensive?



Reuters Link
quote:
New York Art Shuttered After Bush Monkey Portrait
Mon Dec 13, 2004 03:57 PM ET

By Larry Fine
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A portrait of President Bush using monkeys to form his image led to the closure of a New York art exhibition over the weekend and anguished protests on Monday over freedom of expression.

"Bush Monkeys," a small acrylic on canvas by Chris Savido, created the stir at the Chelsea Market public space, leading the market's managers to close down the 60-piece show that was scheduled to stay up for the next month.

The show featured art from the upcoming issue of Animal Magazine, a quarterly publication featuring emerging artists.

"We had tons of people, like more than 2,000 people show up for the opening on Thursday night," said show organizer Bucky Turco. "Then this manager saw the piece and the guy just kind of flipped out. 'The show is over. Get this work down or I'm gonna arrest you,' he said. It's been kind of wild."

Turco took the show down on Saturday and moved the art work to his small downtown Animal Gallery. Calls to the management of Chelsea Market for comment were not returned.

From afar, the painting offers a likeness of Bush, but when you get closer you see the image is made up of chimpanzees or monkeys swimming in a marsh.

Savido, 23, said he was surprised by the strong reaction to his painting, listed in the catalog at $3,500.

"It seems like people got a kick out of it," Savido said. "When they really see it, they almost do a double-take. I like to get a reaction from people."

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-bred artist said he was happy for all the attention paid to his work but said the decision to shutter the exhibit was "a blatant act of censorship."

Savido plans to auction the painting and donate proceeds to an organization dedicated to freedom of expression.

"This is much deeper than art. This is fundamental American rights, freedom of speech," Savido said. "To see that something like this can happen, especially in a place like New York City is mind boggling and scary."


The whole story/episode is f'n ridiculous. The manager who closed the show because one person complained is such a tool. I've herd of a 'heckler's veto' but I have never seen one. Maybe it was a publicity ploy engineered by the artist or the manager.
AnotherWay83
no
jonSun
Nope. I think they should put up everywhere like that North Korean President.
ierxium
Not offensive.

Next case.
St_Andrew
No.

art shouldnt be censured, right yoepus? ;)
Q5echo
gotta be a publicity stunt to jack the price up. you know liberal that part of Manhattan is?

not buyin that for a minute.
Yoepus
quote:
Originally posted by St_Andrew
No.

art shouldnt be censured, right yoepus? ;)


Right, I agree Art shouldn't.


Still, I don't understand how this is a free speech issue - the owner of the gallery is indeed expressing his rights of free speech.
zig
Think its more interesting than offensive..i didnt figure it was monkeys till i read the text..there is a brazilian artist who is quite famous and hes doing this stuff for years ye know making pictures from unusual objects..but his stuff is amazing and on huge scale and can i remember his name no..is it offensive no
George Smiley
I thought it was dog at first, but now I can see that it's actually George Bush
Q5echo
quote:
Originally posted by George Smiley
I thought it was dog at first, but now I can see that it's actually George Bush


de·ceive ( P ) Pronunciation Key (d-sv)
v. de·ceived, de·ceiv·ing, de·ceives
v. tr.
1. To cause to believe what is not true; mislead.
2. Archaic. To catch by guile; ensnare.

v. intr.
To practice deceit.
To give a false impression: appearances can deceive.

[Middle English deceiven, from Old French deceveir, from Vulgar Latin *dcipre, from Latin dcipere, to ensnare, deceive : d-, de- + capere, to seize; see kap- in Indo-European Roots.]

crazy, huh?

stren
quote:
Originally posted by St_Andrew
No.

art shouldnt be censured, right yoepus? ;)


+1
kaffeemeister
No... True Art ain't offensive in any form, although the term "True Art" is rather subjective and for debate; however, i'm still relunctant to accept comtemporary forms of "art" :).

Nonetheless, this whole post reminds me of a Simpsons episode when Michangelo's David visited Springfield museum :D
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