In a shocking turn of events, three piglets allegedly slated to starve as part of a controversial art installation in Copenhagen were reportedly removed by animal rights activists last weekend, igniting a debate on animal welfare and the ethics of artistic expression. The exhibition, titled “And Now You Care,” was orchestrated by Chilean artist Marco Evaristti and aimed to bring attention to the suffering caused by mass meat production.
According to Evaristti, the piglets—named Lucia, Simon, and Benjamin—were originally confined in a makeshift cage composed of shopping carts, ostensibly to face several days without food and water. As public outcry mounted, he claimed that the intentional starvation was intended as a statement on the brutal realities of the meat industry in Denmark. “The intention was to shed light on the cruelties of modern pig production,” Evaristti said.
On Tuesday, Evaristti revealed that the piglets had been taken by animal rights activists, noting that he was initially dismayed but then relieved that the animals would be given a better life. Following this incident, Evaristti was compelled to shut down the exhibition, which had already attracted significant media attention.
The Copenhagen police have confirmed that they received reports about the removal of the piglets and are investigating the circumstances surrounding this unusual incident. Animal Protection Denmark has acknowledged serious concerns regarding pig welfare in the Danish pig industry, highlighting systemic issues where numerous piglets compete for limited breastfeeding opportunities, leading to potential starvation.
Evaristti’s provocative method elicited backlash from various animal welfare groups, who maintain that while raising awareness of animal mistreatment is important, they do not condone the use of animals in distressing situations for artistic purposes.
Meanwhile, a friend of Evaristti, stated that his decision to intervene was prompted by a heartfelt plea from his 10-year-old daughter, who reportedly implored him to prevent the piglets from suffering a painful fate. “I couldn’t bear the thought of those animals facing undue distress,” he remarked.
In light of the removal, Evaristti has expressed an intention to explore different methods of showcasing his message, including potentially acquiring more piglets—this time with plans to auction them to ensure they have a “good life.” He also mentioned an idea to incorporate deceased piglets from processing plants into future installations.
“I’ve received a deluge of hate messages from around the world,” Evaristti shared, highlighting what he perceives as a misunderstanding of his artistic mission in relation to animal rights. “People don’t seem to grasp that my work is fundamentally about advocating for animals.”
In the aftermath of the exhibition’s disruption, both Evaristti and animal rights groups are likely to find themselves under increasing scrutiny as discussions regarding ethical treatment and public discourse around animal rights continue to evolve. The Copenhagen incident is poised to be a flashpoint in the ongoing debate about the role of animals in art and the responsibilities of artists toward their subjects.
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Total abuse NOT art...no real artist would ever do that...a real artist would be able to draw them thin but not make them thin and starved....this person is trying to disguise his horrible abuse as "artistic" total bull#%^*