Design Federation

Goldberg’s lost his marbles! Starving this poor creature to death for the sake of art and people dying in Iraq for oil are both tragedies. It’s unfair to criticise those angered by the former just because there’s something worse out there. There will always be something more abhorrent.

Well, I think he makes an interesting point, i was pretty pissed off when i read about that, but i can also see davids argument.

Mmmmmm, I think this is appalling too… However, to suggest that consumers are equally to blame? No, I don’t think so….

In response to his comment involving Iraq…

Do billions of people get murdered every year? Slaughtered in an organised fashion in every country of the world? Maybe only 0.1% of that. But billions of animals are put to death every year so we can have our KFC and steak. People in war torn countries have it bad, real bad, but at least they have a voice.

Goldberg thinks he sees the bigger picture. He’s got a long way to go.

LE PRESNA newspaper did a story about the exhibit where the gallery director said the dog was fed and well cared for and that is escaped during the night. ALL LIES!!! David: I hope you are not waiting for SNOPES.COM to verfiy this story before believing it. You’ll be 90 years old by the time they get around to it. As for Vargas’ POINT about there being STARVING animals all over and no one cares, that is UNTRUE. And at least those animals can at least find a puddle to drink from and maybe food to eat. Vargas deprived the dog of at least being able to search.

Who are you to say these other inhumanities don’t upset us? You need to do your homework, many AR activists are also HR activists. Don’t tell me what breaks my heart daily, I fight these horrible things everyday. I will petition and protest until I can no longer walk. Do not judge us, you do not know us.
Vargas’ mockery of death is unacceptable, and he should be punished for this cruelty.

Geez, these americans seem to really be up in arms about it, I wonder if they even like design or art, or just come to any page to have a whinge. Im sure they will be saying they should nuke costa rica next, or it should join the axis of evil. maybe its time to go back to discussions about art me thinks

If this cruelty is true, then we should tie up Guillermo the same way, and have him starve to death! As it raises the same stupid point as he tried to make.
Another pretentious wanker.. sorry “artist”.. and Guillermo isn`t a consumer either?..

Vargas could have made an artistic statement by feeding the animal. He’s not an artist in any more of a sense than he who cans his shit is.
He should be tied to a wall and let starve

people have gone completely mad!!!the dog had no means of defending itself!!! men can speak or go to war, use their tools or weapons to fight those oppressing them…you just have to wonder if the fight was equal??? the idiot had the guts to put the nails in the walls and hang the dog of that wire..the dog could not do anything against that dumb person! ART is to immitate reality or show reality in a brighter or sadder shade, not murder when you have the power over the less educated or less powerful-this is called MURDER…and to think there is actually an association that would like this idiot to do it again!!!! you have to wonder what this world has become and what we really have to show, say or demonstrate?

he could have explained his point by photographing those dying dogs he is talking about. if he cared that much about them dying on the streets, he could have fed the God damn dog, not let it starve to death, in the so called “name of art”.. why doesn’t he kill his dearest ones in order to show that people are dying in South Africa? Sheesh… what a sick bastard..

people die in iraq: true. however it is a very complex scheme and not that easy to solve. there are many interests, politicians, etc etc in order to come to terms with it, understand it and finnish it. HOWEVER, THIS IS ONE ISOLATED EVENT THAT JUST INVOLVES A MAN AND A DOG. A man that wants to kill a dog to prove what???. Let’s electrocute kids so we teach that electricity kills, let’s do it then.

we are giving to this alleged artist what he wants: attention and publicity.
the real question is: how much money he made whit that “work”? I think money and fame are the only things he really cares about. Let’s ignore him!

It just stricks me as strange to justify the killing of whatever living form, human or animal, to make a point on anything. It can’ t be acceptable to impose death in name of whatever you think is right. If you want to prove something by killing … I suggest you have the courage to kill your self.

I was appalled this morning to learn about this incident where the dog was tied to the wall and left to die. I am an artist and understand that sometimes it takes a shocking and perhaps contradictory action from an artist to raise public consciousness about a specific issue. But this cruel act against an innocent creature is unjustifiable. It is shameful for me to hear that someone who calls himself an artist can go to such extreme of coldness and cynicism in order to raise eyebrows (he certainly has!) and to further his artistic agenda.
I feel we, the public, should try to apply some wisdom in the face of this senseless death and try to make the best of what has already occurred. We cannot bring this dog back to life, nor can we revert its suffering - but we can better conditions for other creatures like him who are still alive. I am angered personally by this action, and am sure many other people feel the same way, but we should not promote hatred toward Vargas or toward any other living being, let alone propose to inflict the same suffering he has inflicted. There is already too much of this in the world.

I suppose I shouldn’t even bother leaving a response to this article, but as some already said … “Goldberg’s lost his marbles”. I mean, how can you even compare the two facts? Yes, it’s outrageous that people die in Iraq for “the cause”, but how can this be compared to the fact that a crazy son a bitch that calls himself an artist had done that thing? Those people in Iraq are supposed to think for themselves, they chose to fight back for what’s right to them. War is cruel and meaningless, but doing such thing to a poor animal to prove a worldwide fact is more then cruel. So I ask … is really art of such importance in our lives to murder a dog? I am astonished most of all about the fact that so many people had seen this and probably even admired “the art” This is not art and everybody knows it.
Well, Let’s say that it happened once so we could close our eyes on this, but as I heard the Biennale Centroamericana di Arte Association wants to repeat this “art manifestation” and I find this more then outrageous.

Both are wrong and cruel. But I would like more rather to see a man like that rather than a dog. A human killed a human for his pleasure/duty. A dog fight with another dog to make his owner appreciate him. And the above is the ultimate appreciation. Well I much prefer to see humans killed rather than dogs in this manner

I’m sorry to say but saying that this act is the lesser evil and thus shouldn’t be made such a fuss of is not right. It is utterly disgusting that a dog was tortured and killed merely as a marketing ploy!

My question is this - What about the authorities?

Let’s start with the actual place where the exhibition took place? How could authorities (Director of Building, government officials e.t.c) leave such a thing happen without doing anything to stop? I must say that this act of violence and torture does not reflect well at all on the country and authorities who allowed this to happen!

Shame on YOU for permitting this happening.

Regarding whether this really happened or not - Where is the media when it is needed?

Well, I must say - if Habacus considers himself an artist and if this was all a marketing ploy, it worked against for the simple reason that I personally would boycott anny artist (or individual) who commits such a macabre act of violence.

I would tell Habacus-
1. GEt a life
2. Get immediate help!

My english is not very good , but I hope to make my opinion undestandable.
There´s no question that there´s a lot of wrong things going on arrownd this sick world that we live in , but….(yes: BUT)
I can´t find any explanation for the purpose of this so called “artist” to exhibit this matter in such an inhuman way.
There´s a lot of babys and children in Africa dying everyday and “no one” cares , no one want to sale their car that will pay for treatment and food for at least 20 children….no one cares! no one cares about them , or the poor dogs dying , or the next door guy that is depresed….
Well , I DO care , and unlike this guy , I do take actions in my hands , I´m going to adopt one child, I´ve adopted already tree street dogs , I´ve volunteer at least four years of my life in hospitals , homeless centers, etc….
My question is: so his ART is better than ACTION? isn´t it hipocresy to say: “hey look, this is my way of calling the atention of OTHERS to the fact that there´s a huge number of animals dying in the street”? , how about to save ONE?….how about to save ONE and then show the progress and evolution of the animal? , how about to put in place the sentence “every action has a reaction”?
I´ll tell you why he dind´t do that: because it takes effort!, and is easyier to display in a passive way something that would happend without his help (”the dog eventually die anyway!”) well , we are all going to die , so you think it is okay to display a sick child because there´s nothing we can do to save him??
I have study art and design in tree diferent countries , and I don´t belive that this man is an artist , and anyone how thinks that he is, should donate their bodies for him to treat them like he treated “Natividad” (the dog´s name!)….
His messege would be even stronger with a human body!!!

Man,
this man (”artist”) is using the absurdity of a dying dog to force us think about our own “humanity”. He managed to MOVE us. So, instead of getting all upset about that (or ALONG with it), why don’t you protest against what goes on daily in Africa, in India, in China, in Gaza and in so many other places around the world where men are treating other men (and women, of course) as ANIMALS? Cry over that, too! Write to your politicians, the ones you helped elect!

David,
It’s about a dog starved to death by people with only evil inside, not about Iraq. So don’t change the subject about Iraq or other mankinde problems. I say to this “artist” that what goes arround comes arround, so he better watch out!

Just a sorry sick guy! What a gut, to name this art…I am ouraged about the fate of the poor animal, but also I am trembling to the thought I “Homo sapiens sapiens” is the single animal that invented and refined torture, till started to name this “art”. Hope you will dye in an artistic mode, Mr. Vargas!

Please forgive my English.

Dogs dont start or end wars. Only us humans do that. Hope someday we will understand that killing is not the solution.

Mr. Vargas is a sick man. He did not establishe a pont. He murdered a dog.

An that Honduras bienal is inviting him to become a serial dog killier.

“A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.” If we all chose to save one life (animal/human) while we can, the statistics would change. But we’d rather sit back and criticize what other people aren’t doing right.

Monsieur Goldberg,
Arrêtez de faire de la morale à 5 cents. Le fait que de pauvres gens meurent en Irak n’atténue pas le scandale que représente l’oeuvre de ce faux artiste qu’est Vargas. Vous-même, Mr. Goldberg, participez à ce scandale en détournant l’attention du public.

Might want to read this article: http://harmonicminor.com/2008/04/07/the-guillermo-habacuc-vargas-hoax/

What I find fascinating is all of the people that watched the dog die, that witnessed a dog tied up for ‘art’ and the fact that they did nothing. Those people share just as much blame, if not more, than Vargas.

Even if you take him at his word and believe the dog was fed and only tied for a few hours, taking that animal from the street, or anywhere, was still wrong. It was not his to take, since animals are not the property of humans. Tying it in an empty room for people to gawk at is also horrendous, and an extremely cruel thing to do to an animal. Human death for oil, coffee, clothes or anything else have nothing to do with this. It was wrong, and there is no justification for any of it, none at all.

Michelle, I guess you didnt read the post above yours OR the news at the top of the article. its a HOAX. But judging from half of the people posting, seems they only see what they want to see.

Everybody and all animals deserve “freedom to die”… This man isn’t God! Strange World…:(

[...] See David Goldberg’s post about this at Design Federation. [...]

THEY ARE WHAT THEY READ

This hoax should be a lesson to all bloggers. If they thing that informations come via email…

Oh dear god…

Es ist ein Sckock für mich. No no No !! Stop !! Stop Guillermo Habacuc Vargas STOP !!! No Dog ! Ich schäme mich für diese Menschen !! :-( Germany

The great GANDHI once said”I don’t think that the life of an animal has less value than that of a human being”…well, I think I am in good company! Nothing in the world justifies such a cruel act.

This creature is a sorry excuse for a human being!!!! Just allowing him to publicly torture a living helpless soul makes me wonder how far can we sink as human beings? It’s enough that we are skinning animals alive to look fancy in their dead skins! Now a creature like this bastard decides to starve them in front of everyone to see. I wish someone would subject him to the same fate and we can all watch it in the name of art and say he represents all the homeless starving people in the world. Maybe he should have created art by posing himself first then choosing an unwilling victim!!!

It did not die, apparently.
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/story/0,,2269320,00.html
Excerpt:
”
Excerpt follows,

Vargas tethered the animal without food and water under the words ‘Eres Lo Que Lees’ - ‘You Are What You Read’ - made out of dog biscuits while he played the Sandinista anthem backwards and set 175 pieces of crack cocaine alight in a massive incense burner.

Vargas, 32, said he wanted to test the public’s reaction, and insisted none of the exhibition visitors intervened to stop the animal’s suffering. He refused to say whether the animal had survived the show, but said he had received dozens of death threats.

Juanita Bermúdez, director of the Códice Gallery, insisted Natividad (the dog) escaped after just one day. She said: ‘It was untied all the time except for the three hours the exhibition lasted and it was fed regularly with dog food Habacuc himself brought in.’”

Habeas corpus.

Surely if this story were in fact true, the outcry from all those caring people who witnessed it would have quickly brought the press, the authorities and a lengthy investigation. And yet, there’s not enough evidence here to condemn a man of swatting a fly.

Does anyone have the gallery brochure on this event? Why are there no reports on the net from eyewitnesses. Why has the gallery owner not come forward or been investigated? Were the viewings continuous 24/7, or just for three hours at a time? Surely getting the facts correct matter here.

The accusations being levied against the artist are extreme considering the evidence of a few photos, photos that may very well have been photographed mere minutes apart and mean absolutely nothing. The dog may have been fed and given water just fifteen minutes after the photographer had left. Everything else is based on little more than internet gossip and hearsay.

If people read the artist’s explanation of the exhibit and still did nothing, surely the bigger crime is with the public who allowed it to happen, the gallery who housed the exhibit, and the authorities who did nothing to stop it, all of who openly condoned the exhibit … that is, if the artist did indeed do everything he claimed for his art.

The dog is very much alive in all the photos I’ve seen of it on the web. Surely if the dog had starved in front of the viewing public, there would be far more gruesome photos of it than the ones we keep seeing of the live pup. I’ve seen the pup sitting, lying, standing, walking, even sleeping peacefully. And yes it’s true, there are no photos of the dog being fed or given water. Then again, there are a lot of dogs with no photos of them being fed or given water. For that matter, there are no photos of me being fed or given water either. Conclusion? Zero. You can’t draw the sort of conclusions people are drawing from any of this. It’s just plain wrong. You may as well hang a man for wearing brown shoes.

And not that I would want to, but I’ve also not seen this same pup … dead. Given the extremeness of the accusations levied against the artist, I should think it only appropriate that the burden of proof required of the accusers be equally extreme. Yet for all the horror and self-flagellations going on, there is no dead pup, no bona fide as it were.

But one fact is indisputable. Vargas has generated an enormous amount of free press from this petition for his showing at the 2008 Visual Arts Biennial of the Central American Isthmus, not to mention the rock-star international standing he might otherwise never have gotten without it.

This alone utterly validates Vargas’ accusatory title, “You are what you read”.

I say again, habeas corpus.

In the meantime, if everything that’s being accused is in fact true, there can be little doubt he’ll be arrested at the Biennal that everyone on the internet has advertised so well.

“HABBAKUK is unique among the prophets in that he openly questions the wisdom of God.[citation needed] In the first part of the first chapter, the Prophet sees the injustice among his people and asks why God does not take action: “1:2 Yahweh, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you ‘Violence!’ and will you not save?”" - (World English Bible).

“The death of one man [dog] is a tragedy, the death of millions [of dogs] is a statistic”

David I’s sorry but you really sound like an idiot. What does soldiers who get paid to go to war and sign documents etc have anything to do with a dog that was tortured to death in the name of art. You’re logic is pathetic. People have the ability to choose. They can say yes or no. They can walk away from a situation if they want to. This dog couldn’t.
There are so many ridiculous bits in your letter I don’t know where to start.

David don’t give up your day job. Please.

Stef

“But will you raise your hands and say, people die in Iraq everyday for a war on oil, or hundreds of people die making the shoes you wear, the gold around your neck or coffee you drink, yet you are more likely to get upset and outraged about a stray dog dying in a gallery.”
It’s Different, A Stray Dog Is Placed there, Exploited Without Food Or Water.
In War, They Don’t Have A Choice To Whether Go tHere Or Not, The War Is Basically For Oil.
If You Searched “Art” In The Dictionary, I Can Almost Guarteed You It Wouldn’t Say “Dying Dog”

Stefanus, I’s Sorry? If you are going to abuse someone atleast learn the language. It is fools like yourself who make the world a worse place. You blow and puff about a dogs rights, and then in the same breath people like you say, lets kill this crazy guy, thinking you are different from this moron. Why don’t you go around and save every stray dog then come back and tell us what a sterling human being you are, and while you are at it, maybe get a day job.

THERE IS A PETITION TO MAKE HIM STOP!!! READ IT NOW NOW NOW! SIGN IT NOW NOW NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that a lot of people are taking what Goldberg said too personally. This is one of the first places I have seen this issue written about objectively. No One should have the right to hurt someone or something else but they do, and I think Goldberg was really trying to get across that before you accuse someone else of a horrible accusation, even if it may be true, your should first look at yourself.

The poor dogs are trying to survive, but this
evil man took this dogs opportunities from it. This act also point out the lack of laws against animal cruelty
in Costa Rica, and the bad mentality in this part of the world. Excuse my english - I write from Denmark.

this horrible act he calls art is unnaceptable, he should be in jail where he belongs, or tied up in a galery and starved…we can also do this and call it art??!!! outrageous!

This is totally Sadistic!! Anyone have this Freak’s contact details!! Id love to get my hands on him, tie him up and starve him … in PUBLIC!!! ART, right!! Oxygen thief. If his contact details are known, PLEASE advertise so the whole world can let him know what a disgrace to human kind he is.

This guys an asshole for even concepting something like this but I’d like to see proof that this went down. It’s shooting up the blog charts with bullet but I’ve yet to see a real article. Can anyone point one out?

I totally agree with many sentiments against the piece. It’s little more than an inhumane, ignorant, cruel, and selfish cheap shot. I can think of a million other ways he could have said the same thing. Mr. Vargas could do us all a favor and read a little about a guy named Gandhi. I find the whole situation terrible and making itself into a real bummer. Making matters all the worse, I wish the reaction would have been less emotional and reactive. 

Ultimately, the petition to ban Vargas from the Bienal Centroamericana is little more than a declaration that irrational public opinion (devoid of due process, largely based on unverified editorial reports, and an array of exaggerations and rumors) has the right to define acceptable morality in art/artists, and thereby censor it’s offenders. Please consider the possibility of signing that petition, or encouraging others to, as a big step down dangerous and slippery slope. I can’t help but look back and shudder at what happened as a result of the whole Andres Serrano/Mapplethorpe/NEA fiasco; art was criminalized by personal public opinion and grants were cut by millions and millions of dollars. We need to prosecute criminals, not art, especially not degenerate art. The problem is a legal, not moral issue. Both in the US and abroad, proper law enforcement, truly humane laws concerning animal rights/cruelty, lack of adequate public services providing care stray animals, and the legal definition of animals as little more than property (with a value equal to their purchase price), created that dog, in that gallery. Vargas’ seemingly amoral judgement is a symptom of primitive or non-existant law. If the story is true, what is the real crime? It wasn’t a punishable criminal offense for the artist/gallery to treat that animal in such a way. It shouldn’t have been an option.
His actions, while in completely poor and regrettable judgment, appear to be within the legal boundaries of his government. As it stands, it’s merely offensive. If murdering starving orphan kids were legal in Nicaragua, and an artist found a poignant social metaphor in placing the head of a small orphan child on a stake in the middle of a gallery, wouldn’t the appropriate response be to put pressure on Nicaraguan government to outlaw murder of starving orphan kids? Wouldn’t anyone feel compelled to start an organization dedicated feed and clothe and house and educate these kids?

Also please remember, it is alleged animal abuse. Since when do people go on trial via the internet? Since when do we strip people of their right to due process because someone forwarded us an email, created by anonymous sources, or linked to a blog with editorial content? We must equally consider the consequence of our actions/reactions. 

Did you see the bit artinfo.com had to say about him:

“Over 1.5 million people have signed a petition calling for Costa Rican artist Guillermo “Habacuc” Vargas not to be included in this year’s Bienal Centroamericana Honduras, the Guardian reports. The outrage comes after an exhibition last year at the Codice Gallery in Nicaragua, where Vargas leashed a stray dog named Natividad in the gallery without food or water as part of his work. He also wrote the words “Eres Lo Que Lees” (You Are What You Read) in dog biscuits for the piece, while playing the Sandinista anthem backwards and setting 175 pieces of crack cocaine alight in a giant incense burner.”

Agreed, I can’t stand it either. It sounds like the only thing he’s missing free hand-jobs from slave child prostitutes in the back room. But also, 1.5 million speaking out, making their voices heard. That’s incredible and inspiring. Now, with any luck those same 1.5 million people will be moved enough to write the government of Nicaragua, urging generation of legislation protecting animals from these abuses, or help what is also an economic issue by organizing fundraisers to neuter stray animals, provide proper care, etc. I urge anyone who signed the petition to please be more than just offended.

And, while we’re on the subject of live animals in art, I think Banksey is a douche, and wonder why nobody signed any petitions protesting “Barely Legal”. 

These links are pics from the September, 2006 show we had here in Los Angeles. I find this piece equally outrageous. Hoards of civilized people gawked, laughed, took pictures of a remarkably sensitive and intelligent creature, then they bought the art and the books and the posters.     

http://www.flickr.com/photos/true2death/252870011/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/true2death/252614489/

Also see:

http:/.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3077217.stm

All domesticated and captive animals are part of our collective inherited responsibility. For thousands of years we’ve depended on them for survival. In many cases, we’ve permanently altered their genetics to better serve man, and/or eliminated their habit and natural ability to survive. Through selective breeding we’ve rendered animals like the dog an utterly dependent creature, yet over the past 100 years or so, the “job” of most dogs have all but been eliminated. While their functions have changed, their value to the humans species remains. Like children, domesticated and captive animals are a personal and public responsibility, please offer the same conscientious protection from harm.

the most chocking thing for me is that nobody just decided to unleash the dog , take it away from there and feed him… this is what I would have done….

the secong most chocking fact is that a gallery accept to exhibit this.

In the name of Art?

Let’s all jump om the band wagon. WOO WOOO, THis is a hoax, Have you ever been to Costa rica, This picture is not in an art gallery it is on someones back porch. All dogs around the world are not Fat and sassy like they are in the US. This dog is most likely a pet, Go to another country and GO INTO COUNTRY not just the tourist areas you will NOT see this those animals are run out of those areas. Silly fat and sassy Americans. I’m one too but I see these tragedies what is worse is the children also look like this. It happens in Mexico too, any poor country where the Gov’t is corrupt and the people are over taxed for the officials to get rich.

So Goldberg is saying–because people are dyeing in Iraq, etc then this is nothing to be alarmed about. GET REAL–Goldberg—this is a defenseless animal & this nor people dyeing across the world should be allowed. Where does it end with society that we have to condone an action just because something else is going on elsewhere. I am just beyond shock that any of this has to be happening PERIOD !!! I pray everyday the whole world can have compassion for each other & other creatures!!! I know this has always gone on—we just know have the internet that makes it more accessible to the world!!!! I will say the punishment should fit the crime!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

RAY,

A dog mauled a little girl in Australia just the other day, a banned dog, it will be put down, are you upset about the dog or the girl?

So again as Goldberg says, which is more important to you, a hoax dead dog online or the people who have no choice but are bombed daily in Iraq or the Palestinians who have no rights in their own country. Your lot make me sick, go back to drinking your cafe lattes

This is not art. If he wants to present this as art, he must be really unintelligent. This is a political statement and a hard one. Its easy to see both sides of the argument, but if you want to present an issue, dont let people lie for you about it, like this gallery. If he was so proud of his work he wouldnt be forced to lie, he could display his pride about it.

There is nothing to be proud about when thinking about this ‘experiment’. But what Im most suprised about is not the supposed ‘artist’, but the people that viewed what was happening and didnt do anything to stop it. How often do people stand by and watch something that they can put an end to, that they know is wrong, but do absolutely nothing? Is this the lesson he wanted from us?

In a way I agree with David. However, This Guillermo is due to repeat this installation in Honduras… Is it still wrong to want to stop something like this happening again? also, the sort of people who bring this to the worlds attention are most likely to be more sensitive to other things like the war in Iraq, Child labour etc. And yet David seems to be saying that If you believe something is wrong you are only allowed to complain about it or bring it to the world’s attention if you have already cured all evil in the world. Personally I think that everyone should do what they can, when they can. Apathy is far far worse than doing at least one little thing even if that is ‘only’ helping a dog.

Another attention whore “Artist”. Hoax or not…the guy is nothing but an talentless attention whore. Much like Damien Hirst and all the rest. You idiots call this “Art”? Sounds more like a great big con on the part of these so-called ‘artists’ and a gullible public desperate to prove just how (pseudo)’intellectual’ they are. Not art. Crap.

And of course the gallery is going to state AFTER THE FACT and after all of the uroar that in fact the dog was fed and ran away after a day…before someone decided to fire bomb the place. It’s called P.R.! It’s what MAKES bullshit artists like this known. P.R.! Amazes me how the art world is not at all about talent but now about how outrageous and vile you can be.

And note to Michael Peters: What a pompous ass you are! Please put your head back up your ass and shut up. Thank you.

It’s interesting to see that people get motivated when a problem is personalised. That’s not bad,it’s understandable. It is less chaotic.
So we can actually take advantage of exhibitions as this -after making sure that the dog in the next exibition is fed- by gathering stray dogs (with permission) out of the gallery. We can organise dog feeding by the visitors and ask the artist to take part in this as well. It will be an interactive art project aiming on action.

I think that we are beliving only what we are seeing?? maybe this is the point of the “art”?? We are told this dog was unfed..how do we know…there are limitted images online…has anyone been to the exhibtion?? I dont think this animal was starved, i think it was fed…the gallery opened the dog sat there for a while as visitors came in… then the gallery closed and the dog was fed… i think the artist had coursed the stir he wanted and has caused a fantastic debate and argument…. When i first saw this i felt the same, i thought it was sick and discusting.. put i looked more online and it all seems a bit staged…maybe this is the reaction he wanted??? On the other hand what we have seen could all be true, in that case i agree with previous comments… he should be starved!!!

i dont believe that this is an ignorant piece. i do believe that this is infact a very well understood statement by the artist. i dont believe it is for us to slate because we do not understand the situation that the artist does. so as we look at it, a dog is being starved.. without concent.. for everyone to see. i am not condoning that this is right. would i lay down my life for a dog.. possibly. would the dog appreciate what i did probabaly not. the dog cannot feel what we feel as humans.. our brains are more complex then our instincts. we feel compassion, guilt, we have the capability to understand how other people feel, does that make us better or more worth saving? i dont know.
there are dogs on the streets of costa rica as there are rats and pigeons on the streets of england. animals bread because it is instinct, when there are too many and not enough food they die. survival of the fittest. it depends how you see life are we hear to procreate and just exist?
i have a pet dog whom i love, but it just so happens that it is that dog i have formed an attachment to. the dog in the exhibition like the how ever many dogs on the streets are to us like just another pigeon or another rat whom we have no attachment for. we have not taken the time to tame and love that pigeon or that rat so it is just like any other. the dog in the exhibition has become different and worth debating and thinking of because it has been brought infront of you, for everyone to see. for people to study its face, its features.. what makes it significant. it is not just another dog on the street. but you can not say that you love that dog. the death of an animal that you have no connection with that you have never seen or will never see can not effect you. you have little or no concern for it. it will always be something you put out of your mind because you have little time for it in your life. (im not saying everyone of course) its like charity, homelessness.. you see someone on the street and u have a 10er in your pocket, would you give it away? maybe maybe not?
it is part of life that people and animals die.. if we didnt the world wouldnt fuction.
a eutopia is in effect a distopia.

The arguement here is ridiculous.
Humans have the know how and ability to help themselves. If we’re being oppressed, we can take up arms and fight back. War and death happens. Millions of living beings die every day. Death is inevitable, no doubt.
But to put it on show for profit and fame is disgusting. This is one step away from putting a human at their death bed in the middle of gallery. By your reckoning that would be acceptable. People die everyday, why should we make a fuss of this persons death being exploited? Just like the dog, right?

When I read about the artist killing the dog, my heart felt heavy and sad. The world is has many people willing to inflict suffering on ‘others’ to make a point.

In my heart, I wish the artist had ears that could have heard the suffering of ‘others’ in the from of the dog, and had a heart with enough compassion to have acted on it.

I don’t cae what he’s trying to say or prove this is a sick thing to do no matter which way you look at it. and whats even more disturbing is theres actually people who are considering this art or at the least somewhat defending this guy. animals are defenseless creatures who need us to take care of them and instead this guy is taking credit for “artfully” hurting this dog. and what seems to be the worse part of this is that people actually want him to do it again. shame on all of them!!

Guillermo Vargas Habacuc; You are a disgrace to the human race. I have been forwarded an email today documenting your actions in starving an inocent dog to death in the name of art. The generated email has polled a petetion holding approx 200,000 signatures. The petition is a start I agree, but I won’t be satisfied until you are punished for your crime. You are an unstable excuse for a man and you should be tied up and starved yourself. I hope justice is served for this poor little animal.

I am an Artist, this is not art. period! i dont care what he was proclaiming or thought he was selling i certainly am not buying. that was a living creature and deserved better. sure he says they are starving on the street. but i agree at least on the street he may of had a chance. yes babies are starving will he tie one to a post as well so the elitist rich can swill champagne as it leaves this mortal coil. soldiers die in wars yes also true, will he put a bullet through a service man and let the art community swill more drinks down as he bleeds onto the white floor. this is not thoughtful or smart. it is not creative or innovative. it is just a sick mans attempt to make himself popular at the expence of a pitifull creature. if i was there i would of freed the animal, not stood around watching it. if it was truly being starved and those so called people stood around watching laughing and wondering at the abstract neo morphism of his blatant attempt to be something he is not. shoudl be ashamed of themselves. is he sick yes, is he smart No , does he really care about those dying animals, No . if he did he would start a organisation funded off his art. here in australia we have the rspca, and many other home made animal welfare organisations. dont pull my leg mate you are sick and you disgust me. And to the ones who say it is fake. i Pray that it is with all my heart, please let me be wrong. love to everyone

It is an interesting point you make about taking photos or video of stay dogs, stray dogs have some opportunity to find food and shelter by themselves on the streets. This poor animal was abducted and tortured in the name of art for god sake! It is a tragedy that there are so many stray dogs in this world but to deliberately kill one to make a point about their plight makes no sense to any reasonable person. This man should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The fact that this was allowed to be considered art in any shape or form is utterly disgusting and so called “artists need to wake up to themselves, do they not see torture when they see it? Death by starvation is one of the most painful ways to die, you wouldn’t wish it on anyone yet this man murdered this animal for his viewing pleasure. I would gladly watch this happen to him for mine.

I wrote to PETA about this, and here’s their response:

Many stories, sometimes conflicting, have been circulating about these events, and it has been difficult to verify the reports that we’ve received.

Because the initial exhibit with the dog took place in Nicaragua, which has no cruelty-to-animals laws, Vargas cannot be charged with a crime at this time.

Our investigations department is aware that Vargas will participate in a show in Honduras in November. It has been reported that a Honduran group, the Honduras Association for the Protection of Animals and their Environment (AHPRA), has secured the event organizers’ word that the event rules will prohibit animal abuse. PETA’s caseworkers are monitoring this situation and will take further action if we get word
that Vargas plans to repeat the exhibit with the dog. People often commit heinous acts in a bid to gain attention, so it is important to refrain from encouraging them by giving them the attention that they
clearly crave. For more thoughts on this issue, please visit
http://blog.PETA.org/archives/2008/04/artist_starving.php.

Exactly what happened at the exhibition in Nicaragua last year may be uncertain, but it is clear that millions of homeless animals are at risk of starvation, disease, violence and death in our own communities right now. To learn more about things you can do to make a difference for these animals, visit http://www.HelpingAnimals.com

if art has come to this then what has the world come to , gave this man and the art gallery the right to do such a thing to an innocent dog, I have decided that if art has come to this letting a dog die then I will never take notice of art again I never have faith in it. The art gallery has a lot to answer for and all the people involved

The art gallery should be closed and the artist should never be allowed to show his art ever again the people who allowed this to happen should not be considered human but more as murderers. And to all the people that agree that is okay to watch a dog die and also think that it is art just remember this God is watching you what right do you people have to make a decision that a dog can die for art.

[...] We consumers are as much to blame about this as this alleged artist is. Check out the full article here. [...]

If this even is true, and especially if indeed the artist is seeking to garner media attention, fame and fortune - then whether in protest or support or simple denial of it happening - the thousands upon thousands of people who have written about it have surely ensured his sucess…

the artist who left several goldfish in several blenders, and with no instruction gradually members of the public blended them up.. surely that shows where the issues lie?

Everyman is a hippocritical being - vegan, right wing, left wing, meat eating, health food fanatic, fast food junkie, average joe… you and I are all on a high horse we dont have the right to be on.

If in a western country, your voting choices, lifestyles, purchases, and movements, as well as your continued living there, support untold attrocities - so like him you are chaining the metaphorical dog to the wall. …get my point?

what he didn’t do is just as important as what he might have done - it would be in his favour to spread this sort of rumour even if the dog was fine.

Has it raised awareness? Yes. hell I got an email about it, so i imagine a million other people did. Will it make a difference? well probably not, but it’d stand a damn side more chance if you were out there saving dogs instead of posting irritated and poorly thought out blog posts.

Thank you

The fact that he didnt even TRY to save this poor innocent dog is appauling. NO food NO water anywhere near it. Art MY BUTT, this is a screwed up sceme to try to make money and make himself feel like a big person. Hes just as guilty of animal cruelty, abuse and neglect as a person that kill an animal with their bare hands. Once you take in a sray dog you take ownership in that animal and YOU are responsible for that animal. Burn in hell you peice of CRAP!!!!!

There are children all over this world starving to death and homeless… Is this guys next exhibit with a child…..cuz theyre gonna die anyways right?????

Asesinoooo, hijo de puta, mete el arteee en el culo de tu madre q de seguro la abras matado como a ese perrooo y a toda esa gente q fue a mirar esa crueldad. Hijo de puta te veo en el infiernoo

Why has anyone even sat down to think about this? There is no argument/excuse/rationalisation for this. Seriously . I think this man is a crack head. I am an artist, I appreciate art - but he is way too deep in thought and he has crossed the line. Your’re are a very lonely man. Bad move, enjoy the publicity and don’t spend all your cash on crack you schitzophrenic.

Using this incident to engender existential guilt is spurious. Most people are aware of the underpinning contradictions of their own lives and do not live in self-satisified vacuums. Rather, they see themselves as just one person able to do/protest/change only so much by boycotting diamonds, not buying hand-woven rugs,etc, etc. With this incident, however, simply adding a name to a petition is a positive act. The fact that the subject was a dog that did or did not die does not invalidate that.

Fucking man!!! Sick person!!!
It’s a shame for the artists people one person like this!!!!
If I can I will put him in the prision, for he die with the same way!!!
He is a collaborator for the world be more bad!
I can’t explain what I felt, when I saw this poor and sad situation…
His soul is poor, sad and dirty!!!
Unfortunately, I have to live with this kind of people aroud of us!!!!

Picka ti materina,glavu bih ti odrezao i ostavio pticama da ti je izglodju iznutra.Crkni majmune jedan,i gori u paklu,zelim ti sve najgore u zivotu.Nemoj ni pomisliti dolaziti u Europu,a kamoli u Hrvatsku. Smece jedno odvratno!!!!!!!!

I am not sure you have read all about the artist. He is from Nicaragua. In the city he lives, there is a big problem of dogs starving and dying on the street. As any other artist - he wanted to highlight the problem. This was his way of doing it. Further - there is no proof that he actually starved the animal or that it died because of the display. The artist is purposely not clarifying that to the media. It’s his view that people are hypocritical and do not do any good actually when they see a dog on the streets; while they seem to make a lot of noise of it on the internet. Even the animal rights activists are not claiming that he killed the animal. They are just against using live animals as exhibits. As a normal, thinking and empathetic person - I actually would hope that you understand his point-of-view … surprised that you don’t !!!

The fact of the matter is. It is wrong. Everyone is past the point of trying to think about this smart, intelligent artist and his feelings and the sad and sorry message he is trying to put out there. Whoop-di-doo! So he had a bad childhood or some shit - I don’t want to read all about the artist because NOTHING i read could possibly justify the dog thing. No one should give him the time of day. There are no excuses, no justification/s, NOTHING that excuses this act. Don’t compare this issue to society becuase the issue is this one poor little soul in his own little hell. fuck society its got nothing to do with hypocrits and humanity and human nature. How has the death of this little soul benefited you or anyone else personally? The artists pocket might be a little fuller. Thats it.

When did art turn to self promotion at the sake of not a cause, but actually a life?
DOn’t throw the war in it (that is another issue, and a valid one) but stick to the point. The photo shown is not only disturbing, but even more disturbing is the crowd of people with their backs to the animal. Why was no one moved/sickened enough to grab that dog and hit the road?
Perhaps they are from the same region/same ideals?
Nothing, not even art should be at the expense of anything other than the artist. If he chose to starve himself for comment that’s right, he can do anything to himself he can tolerate.

There is a strange twisted line crossed here. If there was a picture, a painting, nothing suffers. But it is to move the people to do something positive. All he has done is create disdain and disgust for himself.

To be truly proactive, protest the next showing, protest him, find his address, and send letter upon letter, then do what all corporations dread - boycott his work. Don’t support him. Make sure he is not paid.

If this is indeed true (TBD later) of course, then allowing suffering when we as humans, (the higher race, sure) have the ability to step in and do better - to call this Art, is like calling a Serial Murdered a social worker. It may serve a purpose but innocent suffer for his “work”.
Not acceptable. I agree with others - humans can be in all sorts of situations, but they still have means to get themselves out.
Shame on the human race. This planet is doomed. Man is the virus of this planet.
We have certainly screwed it up haven’t we?
And those of us including myself and a few others above - will continue to write, boycott, phone, not buy and oh yes, vote and recall those who are supposed to be our voice. So start writing - and support those organizations who are large in numbers that can step in with some credentials.
Artist - I hope he has been paid for his work - and I hope he starves to death.
What a slap to all REAL artists out there.
No it’s not all about pretty pictures but this - he obviously doesn’t fit into society and this is his scream for attention.
Why can’t bad things happen to bad people?

So the lambs, the cows and the chickens deserve to be brutally murdered to satisfy our desires for taste but a dog isn’t? As much as I think it’s totally inhumane for Guillermo to do such a thing, I fully get Goldberg’s point as well. Instead of hating and criticizing, let us spend a minute each day to reflect upon our own thoughts and actions. The only constructive way to contribute in making this already messed up world a better place is to stop all the fingers-pointing, and change ourselves; our lifestyles; our selfishness; our ‘nature’ of blaming the world. Guillermo serves as a reminder and a mirror to all of us. Maybe the identity of the real culprit indirectly points to us? Maybe petitions do work but only superficially?

Im a designer, not an artist, and i think that Guillermo Vargas isn´t an artist to, if a can save a dogs life, one at least i feel good, about people die for oil well thats waht americans and some european govermants whant`s and as european im making a point, our goverment just fall and the support that i gave and give is less, the luck of that guy was not to exibit here in portugal, or the next day was him and not the dog that was starving, sorry the bad english.
En español eres um giri pollas cabron ya me gustaria tenerte em frente para que te pudira esplicar como se hacen las cosas por aqui, tu de artista ni un pelo, de cabronaço todo, quando quieras hablamos

this guy is really shit…ain`t fit to be a human!!!!

I leave here a link with some thoughts about the Exhibition #1 performance from artist Guillermo Vargas named Habacuc. I am too concerned with the defense of living beings and dignity so I propose another king of petition in that text. It is mostly written in Spanish http://srgorsky.blogspot.com/2008/03/acabo-de-firmar-para-que-el-perrito-se.html

[...] about (Internationally renowned Photographer Bill Henson) has turned into Australia’s answer to Guillermo Habacuc Vargas because of his latest photographic exhibition. Now the previous article on this site by Sy Rogers [...]

I also support the artist. People that are so adamantly against his use of the dog in this piece, are completely missing the point. You are what you read, and you’re reading mindless rumors and jumping to conclusions. It takes a lot longer than one day for any animal to starve to death. I think this artist is brilliant and the world’s reactions serve only to prove his point, and if he’s been invited to a national convention for it then he should go.

I can see both sides, and i love dogs, it is an awful thing, but think of the response it has created, and how many more people will think about issues such as starvation. I think he should be commended for how he has got people to think- although i really wish he’d found a more humane way to do the same thing. i do not think, however, that he needs to do it again. the point is made, and anymore would just be sadistic.

I really hope that this monster, Guillermo Vargas, never steps at any Bienal here in Brazil, because if he does it he’ll be probable lynched. People here cares a lot for animals we does not put up with this.

“But will you raise your hands and say, people die in Iraq everyday for a war on oil, or hundreds of people die making the shoes you wear, the gold around your neck or coffee you drink, yet you are more likely to get upset and outraged about a stray dog dying in a gallery.”

ARE YOU A MORON??, SERIOUSLY… YOU MADE THE WORST POINT I HAVE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE. THOSE TWO ISSUES ARE 100 PERCENT UNRELATED. SURE, CRIMES HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT WHAT DO WE DO? WE TRY TO STOP THEM, RIGHT?? AND TO SAY THAT PEOPLE GET MORE OUTRAGED BY THIS THAN DEATHS IN IRAQ IS TOTALLY STUPID. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT IS NOT TOLERABLE.

DUMBASS