Experiment: Should This Lamb Live or Die a Colorful Guillotine Death? Artists Let Internet Decide
- Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:30pm by
Liz Klimas
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It’s a social experiment that has some in the online community in an uproar. Two German artists have created a multi-colored guillotine in which they plan to sacrifice a sheep, but they‘re leaving it up to an Internet poll to decide the animal’s fate.
Why? The Telegraph reports Iman Rezai and Rouven Materne, students at Berlin University of the Arts, believe this is an experiment that “represents the current state of democracy” and is a “reflection on our society”. So far, more than 260,000 people had voted with a large majority in favor of the sheep living.
Iman Rezai and Rouven Materne
Even so, should the tables turn by the mid-May voting deadline with the public vote against the sheep, the artists plan to go through with the execution, the Telegraph reports. If they do so, some animal rights groups are ready to seek criminal prosecution. Overall, PETA Bernd Hoffman believes this is a stunt to gain publicity, but the artists maintain “That which needs to be done will be dictated to you by art, by your subconscious.” The Toronto Sun also reports the university has distanced itself from the case, just in case:
A spokeswoman for the university also said the two artists had assured the school that their guillotine project was intended as an “artistic provocation” and that they had no plans to kill the lamb.
To add to the the drama, the two have released a YouTube video depicting how the guillotine was made and what’s at stake. Watch the footage (Note: Language is German):
The version on YouTube has sparked many comments against the lamb’s slaughter. Art Info has other recent examples where artists have used similar tactics before:
Recent history has seen no shortage of artworks that have gotten a rise out of the public through real or imagined acts of animal cruelty (in fact, we recently rounded up some of the finest examples), from the 2007 furor over online photos of the artist Habacuc‘s performance that supposedly had him starving a dog from the street in a Nicaraguan gallery, to the recent uproar caused by Kansas City artist Amber Hansen when she threatened to display and then slaughter five chickens for a community potluck. At least, however, Rezai and Materne offered their lamb more due process then artist Marco Evaristti offered the goldfish he put in blenders back in 2003, inviting the public to liquify them at will.
How would you vote? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or actually cast your vote here.
[H/T Gawker]
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Comments (73)
FN-FEDUP
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:51pmADD YOUR WORD
Report Post »What a bunch of ______
NOT A CRAZY
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 8:53pmZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Report Post »Q-960
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 4:36amFun? I voted yes, it’s just an animal and I love public outrage.
Report Post »charleyrocks
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 11:34amThat poor lamb, god said take care of the animals, well man is not! I want their heads in that thing. There will be punishment for them, either a disease or something eles. Just watch god will punish them.
Report Post »Optimist4now
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:48pmThis is ART? Or are these two Muslims contemplating an Honor Killing because their Professor had sex with the lamb first?
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 8:54pmI have some art. I am going to paint these clowns up with some feral Michigan pig blood.
Report Post »ITSJESTTIM
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 9:06pmMuslims professors should always have sex with the students first then travel to the planet Regula and let the students have sex with the artist sheep on that planet. Or they could just ride their motorized tricycles around the block 3 times and shout Merry Christmas 3 x 2 times.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:43pmBy the Sacrifice of Christ that GOD accepted as PERFECT… as fulfillment of Isaac’s Sacrifice… all Sacrifices were ended… and will be rejected. PAGANS!
Report Post »StormRider
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:42pmI say we put them in first, lets see how they would vote if it was their neck. Killing for food is one thing, killing for sport or entertainment is a whole other level of depravity. These are two sickos that are beyond contempt.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:31pmLamb chops. Damn good eatin’. Kill it. I’d gladly take care of the aftermath.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:30pmPut those two idiots and sadistic (blank) in the guillotine; Obama will probably want the practice for when they bring it here to the states.
Report Post »SistaTriscuit
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:27pmI‘m not sure what’s more disturbing… the fact that these nitwits are performing this “experiment” at all and calling it “art”, or how close the vote actually is. Ugh.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on April 27, 2012 at 3:53amSISTATRISCUIT, I agree. People are just sick. disgusting and a horrible video for children to get their hands on. Encouraging killing animals and enjoying it. What kind of message does that send to easily influenced kids. Yes, I know they should be supervised byt their parents, but are they?
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:25pmFOR WHAT PURPOSE? To give some sick people a rush witnessing the death of an animal “FOR ART???” The PREMISE of this is what sickens me; what has become of our society?
It’s an animal, and a mighty tasty one at that. Animals are slaughtered for food all the time. The death of the animal should be respected and not used as entertainment. During the temple period in Jerusalem, animals were scarified (and much of the meat went to support the priesthood). While it was in plain view of the crowd, it was not “entertainment” – it was a reverent act. This just seems a sick, twisted publicity stunt that demeans us.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:24pmHow about their third option……marriage?
Report Post »LOJ
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:22pmCan’t tell which one is yes and which one is no in English to Vote. I Vote No!
Report Post »itsme123
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 8:11pmNein is no–don’t kill the cute little thing.
“Ja” means I am very stupid and have a blood lust just for the hell of it. I also toss puppies from car windows.
Report Post »freedomisasfreedomdoes
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:22pmdisgusting.. heartless… evil..
How is this art?
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 8:30pmits schizophrenia. people like this are called artists but like most liberals in this world they need mental health treatment not publicity for their delusions.
Report Post »LOJ
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:20pmLet the animal live, why take the its life for some idiotic reason! The sheeps wool can be used for clothing and has much more purpose than just taking its life.
Report Post »geomann
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:16pmCan I get that with a side of potatoes?
Report Post »TumbleBumble
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:12pmEven though I love the taste of lamb, I voted no. It became personal when I looked in on him. :( And don’t bring that lobster to my table. I don‘t want to know who’s fate was sealed when I placed the order.
I’m such a wimp, I know. Females tend to be that way.
Report Post »Tired of Code Names
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:09pmAfter they are done with their experiment, I propose we take away from them everything they are against. Lets start with any product from animals. No meat. No leather. No wool etc. etc. etc. Then since they are likely to be anti any of the so called fossil fuels, they are only allowed to drive their electric car with energy derived from wind. Oh…..they won’t need that energy because in order to produce that electric car, it would require the use of fossil fuels to produce the energy to allow the factory to assemble the car. And last but not least, they don’t get internet access anymore and must have their computers taken away since the only way they can use them is to be proponents of the evil earth destruction fuels. Let them then go out into the forest in Germany without any and I mean any assistance from their government or the companies that provide energy and see how long they last. I’ve lived in Germany. It get’s really chilly in the winter. Those knuckleheads may want to start clearing some tree’s from that forest to have some fire wood to heat their mud hut……oh…they can‘t cut down the tree’s…..But, they can grow their own fresh produce……snot’s once again, they likely would have to cut down some tree’s to make farmland. I wonder where they plan on pooping since they don’t like electricity generated by coal operating the pumps that deliver the sewage to treatment plants and clean up that water. Progressive or recessive? Idiots
Report Post »Col. HawK
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:00pmI have one question….. What is the purpose of the Lamb?…. Feed people then yes…. but for, just cutting it’s head off, no…
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:00pmkilling the critter isnt a crime
its what you do after that ……………..waste the meat , or prepare dinner
Report Post »ENDTIMES2220
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:59pmWhat, I thought Ted Negent was warned not to shoot his lame cow. A guillotine, a lamb. Can you say antichrist.
Report Post »CROCK-HANDLER
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:59pmWho’s paying for this art/experiment?
Report Post »Independent American
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:59pmAren’t those muslim fellers? They may want to give that sheepie a go before beheading her.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:54pmSure look like useful Obama idiots to me. Didn’t watch the video either. I think it would better if they stuck their necks in place of the lamb.
Report Post »flatdaddio
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:53pmyumm, lamb….
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:51pm“Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.- Joel 2:12-13
Report Post »momrules
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:47pmI won’t watch the video. Things like this called *art* disgust me. Even people taking part in the vote disgust me.
Report Post »pscully17
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:55pmwasnt this a movie.. where a man created a website, and the more people that logged in, the quicker the victims would die? the move is called Untraceable.. starring diane lane as the fbi agent that cracks the case.. but the villain uses a varueity of methods to kill his victims.. from heat lamps on kittens to acid in a tank that he puts a man into, to a battery/electricution… the more viewers, who watch the more power, heat, electrictity get applied to the victims
Report Post »aragona
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 7:03pmI agree. Killing animals for food is one thing, but killing in the name of “art”? I want no part in it.
On a completely unrelated note, Glenn – my mother and I very much enjoyed your concert in Phoenix last Friday. I really liked how you incorporated the problems with the microphones into the skits. :)
My mother is nearly 80 y.o. and very concerned about the issues facing us and with the state of our country. She was especially encouraged that, in Phoenix where there are lots of elderly people living, that the bulk/age of your audience was fairly young. That gives her some hope that the country can be salvaged because the young people still care.
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 6:41pmTwo marvelous idiots without purpose.
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