Is This Art? Or Animal Abuse? Animal And Dog Lovers Be Warned…
October 18th, 2007 | by Ginnie | (Visited 565,152 times)Related Animal Abuse Stories On The GinBlog:
- US Soldiers Throwing Puppies Off Cliffs and Shooting Dogs
- Shocking Images of Chinese and Philippine Horse Fighting - Equestrians and Animal Lovers Beware…
Recent Updates To This Story:
- From Raven of HelpingAnimals.com (4/24/08):
I wrote to PETA about this, and this is 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
- NBC10 Webisode Video on Vargas (Thanks Jim!)
This is one of those things you come across and just have to blink a couple times and ask, “is this real?”. In fact it is.
Guillermo Habacuc Vargas had 2 children catch this dog. He paid the kids for this. He then chained the dog and used the dog as “art”. He told everyone not to feed this dog. The dog died in the gallery. He calls himself an artist. I call him an animal abuser. In that event, (in which the dog died) he was chosen to represent his country in the “Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008″.
There is a petition to ban him from this event, which you can visit by clicking this link.
After reading that and digging around, I found this site with a little more information on the incident:
A Costa Rican artist found himself in hot water with the animal protection people in his home country after using a starving, sick street dog as part of an exposition in Managua, Nicaragua, in August. Guillermo “Habacuc” Vargas allegedly found the dog tied up on a street corner in a poor Nicaragua barrio and brought it to the showing. He tied the dog, according to furious animal lovers, in a corner of the salon where it died.
Here is another link about the incident as well, although it’s in another language and I’ve been unable to translate it thus far.
There will always be cultural boundaries and different definitions of what is defined as “art”, but I’ve always maintained that any sort of suffering is pointless. Especially when something like this was preventable.
If this post strikes you, here are a few links to do something about other dogs stuck in terrible conditions:
Save A Dog - Foster A Dog, Save A Life
Can We Help You Keep Your Pet - Abused Dogs
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May 8th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Yeah, I agree with Anna:
“This person is NOT an artist, he is a cruel and heartless ba…rd. An artist is someone with a soul and feeling, who gives pleasure to people all over the world, and not make them cry out in horror. It would be nice to see him treated as he treated his ‘model’.”
This is just messed up. There is no good about this. Anyone who thinks this is okay, doesn’t have a soul.
May 8th, 2008 at 5:56 am
To all the people who support this man and can actually read this article and look at those pictures and say you UNDERSTAND the artist’s point I pity your logical way of thinking. It is people like you who make these so called “artists” crawl out of the woodworks and do these atrocious things to these poor helpless animals. And you know what? People who do not believe in this type of treatment towards animals DON’T HAVE TO BE ANIMAL RIGHT ACTIVISTS. You need to be a decent human being to look at something like this and KNOW it is wrong no matter what the “artist’s” hidden message is. I can guarantee you that the ONLY thing that his so called “work of art” did was make decent home beings look at “artists” like him and make them sick. Just because you watch a dog die “as a work of art” doesn’t empower you to go out and change your life… adopt a dog/cat, donate money to various organizations, spay/neuter your animals. Most people who saw that watched it happen, were disgusted went home and did the same thing they do everyday.
Furthermore next this artist will take a poor starving child from a third world country, tie them to the same wall and let us watch THEM die. Will all you so called “understanders” understand that point? Is that what we have to revert to in this world? Or is THAT not acceptable because it is a human and not a helpless animal? All you “supporters/understanders” of the artists did you also support Michael Vick? If it wasn’t for the infiltration of Vick’s dog fighting circle than all the dogs that have been saved from these busts could have died. So in a way his dog fighting was his work of art? WRONG!!!!!!! There is ABSOLUTELY NO JUSTIFICATION IN HURTING ANY LIVING CREATURE. NONE!
FYI… I am not an animal activist. I am allowed to voice my opinion and I will be sending this to all the animal activists I know, all the ANIMAL lovers I know and all the DECENT human beings I KNOW.
May 7th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I’m SO tired of reading that this “artist” opened eyes and many dogs will now be saved. That’s the most ignorant thing I’ve ever heard. So, I suppose “artists” should also bring it to our “attention” that many children are neglected and abused as well? Why don’t we tie children up and do the same thing? Why don’t we display the horrors of rape and torture as well? That certainly goes on in our world too.
Just because terrible things occur and most people overlook them, that doesn’t give ANYONE the right to make it a “work of art.” I’m a vegetarian and believe no animal should be killed for human consumption - especially due to factory farming. So, should I tie up a chicken and display what it would endure in the farm to raise attention? NO! I should direct people to information about the horrors of factory farms! You don’t educate people about something horrible by actually partaking in the cruelty.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
The more i read about this the more i see the artists point. how many of you that have left comments are animal activasts? if so then fair enough. All over the world millions of animals are abused and starved and badly treated and people do nothing until, as the artist is pointing out, you are made uncomfortable and forced to pay attention. then who do you blame? not the society we live in for letting such things happen, not yourselves for ignoring it for so long, but the man who brought it to your attention.
The more you sign internet petitions and condemn this man you more you prove his point. that we are all hypocrites.
if your all so concerned then why dont the two million people that jumped on the band wagon and signed the petition go and adopt a stray dog. i bet you wont. it is impossible to make anychange without upsetting some people. Infact i am sure that this work will inevitably save more lives than the one that was lost, as it has certainly been sucessful in raising awareness.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Mr Guillermo Habacuc Vargas, If theres so much creulty on animals in your country how about doing something to change that rather than create awareness in this sick, inhuman fashion. If you spent that much effort in actually doing something to elp these animals vs depicting the creulty it might have gone a longer way and you would have actually saved a few innocent lives.
What makes you think that this dog would have died in the streets??? if your so concerned why did you jsut not adopt him/ her and nurse him/ her back to health. Not portray it in this sadistic manner.
We have a lot of animal cruelty in our country too but that doesnt mean we go on and further that jsut to create awareness - do some good and adopt a helpless/ abandoned dog.
Art is emant to be beautiful and appreciated -if you find beauty in this picture you are inhuman and sadistic.
Think about your actions and ask your self how you could destroy a piece of art that god created.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:15 am
i personally think it is Art
based on the fact it was displayed as such
and that he did not harm the dog, he merely just found it in such a condition
948 people prior to me have commented on this. and im sure a majority of you are speaking from Disgust.
so i just wanted to say that he has obviously raised the awareness intended.
his point was clear and his results much clearer.
they cut down trees in forests to make supplies for
building, art and most other things in this world
tell me how destroying a habitat and life of a native animal
so u can create art is any different?
Here is a part of his original [most recent] statement:”Hello everyone. My name is Guillermo Habacuc Vargas. I am 50 years old and an artist. Recently, I have been critisized for my work titled “Eres lo que lees”, which features a dog named Nativity. The purpose of the work was not to cause any type of infliction on the poor, innocent creature, but rather to illustrate a point. In my home city of San Jose, Costa Rica, tens of thousands of stray dogs starve and die of illness each year in the streets and no one pays them a second thought.
Now, if you publicly display one of these starving creatures, such as the case with Nativity, it creates a backlash that brings out a big of hypocrisy in all of us. Nativity was a very sick creature and would have died in the streets anyway.”
May 5th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Would really like to know the full & accurate story. This better not be a hoax. I don’t want to believe this really happened if it not true. Someone would have helped the dog because there are too many good human beings out there that would have done something surely. Why has it taken so long for this story to get out? Does anyone know the real truth out there?
May 4th, 2008 at 11:22 am
The artist seems to think that by tying up a sickly dog in a gallery would bring awareness to the issue of stray animals in the area. But by doing so he is deciding this dogs’ fate. Nativity, the dogs’ name, had no way of providing for himself even on the streets the dog may have been able to provide food and water for himself, the artist has denied such.
May 4th, 2008 at 5:57 am
Absolutely disgusting.
What is the definition of Art? Although there is no real clear definition as to what art is, it is DEFINITELY not this. How is a dying animal something artistic? Very wierd.
May 4th, 2008 at 2:26 am
It has been said that this “artist” wanted to show human hypocrisy, that is in some simplistic amateurish and infantile way almost understandable but it is also very vain and self-involved. Yes it is the artist mission to be a mirror for society, to show what may be uncomfortable to see, so that it may become better, but the artist is also part of that society and must always be a person- in order to accurately reflect society he must always be part of it… this man is not a human being and therefore he simply cannot speak as such. He is not an artist he is simply a very sad egomaniac, pointing a self righteous finger at something we are all already aware of. He does this and so becomes the very incarnation of that horrible neglect that he is calling attention to… so what? Is he supposed to be the great martyr that takes the blunt of our self-hatred at our own inaction? He still let an innocent animal die when he could have helped it, and he did it for his ego… There is rape, there is murder, there is torture in this world; we all see it and do what we do about it. Is it then any mans right to rape, murder and torture just to show us that these things exist?
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I think to boycott the GALLERY his work is showing at is more powerful than to throw our anger only upon the artist. Obviously, an artists’ expression is “enabled” by the venue that allows him to show it. Right now, I feel like our reaction is partially what the artist wants and the larger the reaction against his work, the more this adds to his work by causing strong controversial hype. The hype make people WANT to see his art, it makes the GALLERY WANT TO SHOW his work. I would attack the GALLERY. They are at the root of this. NO GALLERY, NO ARTIST! That’s how it works.
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:18 am
I’d like to get my hands on the fucking guy who did this. I’d tie him to a fucking wall and beat him to death now thats art.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 am
This is the one the most disgusting things I have yet read. That bastard (I would like to say something else) should be chained to a wall and starved to death. When are people going to realize that animals are living, breathing, feeling. That would never happen here. Why? Because I can guarantee you that the dog would be released in the first five minutes of that display and the artist (if thats what you want to call him) would be arrested and fined. I am even more angry at the people at that exhibit that walked past the dog and didnt help or release or protest the treatment of it. Ive read the comments and feel they were very much to the point. I only hope that people will NOT go to his exhibits and patronize an animal abuser. SCUMBAG!
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:19 am
Why did the gallery owners allow this? Why did visitors not call the authorities? This poor innocent dog…..I am speechless…I hope this Ahole, is not given a visa to visit the USA…
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:59 am
If I ever get my hands on this guy I’ll tie him in a corner and starve him to death…
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:51 am
“The artist is purposely not clarifying that to the media” — Why does he want to do that? Make other people misunderstood him? And make himself a sacrificer?? I just do not see the point-of-view…
May 1st, 2008 at 11:03 pm
What the hell is wrong with people when they do crap like this????
You want art??? take pictures of this dog to raise awareness about animal abuse AFTER you have taken him/her to a veterinarian or a rescue organization.
Takepictures of his/her progress as he/she gets better or worse. That would be more worthy. If the dog gets better, the pictures could be described as how human compassion can turn around a once helpless soul barely hanging on to life, to a thriving and happy soul that is waiting to be someones future four legged family member. If it was too late and he or she dies then it could be described as pictures of what human negligence towards animals can look like and to take a stand against it. And that would be only AFTER every attempt has been made to rehabilitate a life that should have continued living.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:14 pm
EVIL!!! BARBARIC!!! INHUMANE!!! WHAT DEPRAVITY IS THIS???? KEEPING A DOG TIED UP, AND STARVING IT TO DEATH….IS NOT ART. WHERE DID GUILLERMO VARGAS LEARN HIS ART….FROM PHOTOS OF VICTIMS, IN NAZI DEATH CAMPS???? THOSE PEOPLE WERE VICTIMS, JUST LIKE THE DOG.
ALL ARTISTS SHOULD CONDEMN THIS FIGMENT OF ART. THIS MAN HAS SHOWN, HIS CAPACITY FOR CRUELTY, TO A DUMB ANIMAL….AND, PASSED IT OFF AS ART!!!!!
HE SHOULD HAVE THE COURAGE, TO DO TO HIMSELF, WHAT HE HAS DONE TO THAT DOG, TO KNOW THE TRUE CAPACITY, DEPTH, AND, COMMITMENT, TO HIS, SO CALLED, ART. PUT IN PRACTICE, ON HIMSELF, WHAT HE CONSIDERS ART.
TO BE SURE, THERE WILL BE SOMEBODY TO STOP HIM. NO ONE, STOPPED HIM, WHEN HE WAS KILLING THE POOR DOG. WHICH SHOWS, HOW PEOPLE CAN BE PERSUADED, THAT ‘WATCHING AN ANIMAL STARVE TO DEATH’ IS AN ART FORM.
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.
IF,THIS IS WHAT ART HAS COME TO,…………WHY BOTHER ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING. JUST STAND AND SEE EVERYTHING DIE.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
SAD!
May 1st, 2008 at 5:22 am
This is a hideous example of a sick childish human being. There is art, and then there are those who attempt to conceal their disgusting sick habits by calling what they do art. I’d love to encounter this make-believe artist somewhere on the street. I can assure you that I would be happy to to him up for a while and see how he felt after a couple of days of starvation. What is the difference between and human and this dog starving? Nothing… why do human beings think they’re so damn important? If this was done to a human, it would have been some horrible 24-hour a day media frenzy.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:02 am
This person is NOT an artist, he is a cruel and heartless ba…rd. An artist is someone with a soul and feeling, who gives pleasure to people all over the world, and not make them cry out in horror. It would be nice to see him treated as he treated his ‘model’.
May 1st, 2008 at 4:54 am
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 !!!
April 30th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Why didn’t anyone else stand up for the dog? I would have untied the dog and took it out of that chamber of horrors….at least it was that for the poor helpless dog, can you imagine what it must feel like to be treated so badly and watching other’s walk past you and offer no help? What kind of spectators were there and said or did nothing about that poor starving dog? I would have been willing to risk what ever consequence to come my way to have helped the dog, at least I could look in the mirror and been proud of who back at me! I may not get this quote exactly right, but Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had said” to allow an injustice somewhere is to allow injustices everywhere” Whether we be on two legs or four, we all have the breath of life in us and since we’ve been blessed with it, we’re entitled to it with a sense of dignity and quality, not one of us are better than the other to say “this life is not worth preserving because it, he or she does not measure up to our standards” “HOW THE HELL DARE ANYONE TO THINK THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THIS MONSTROSITY OF A SICKENING ATTITUDE”?
April 30th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
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