In a provocative exploration of ethical boundaries, Chilean-born artist Marco Evaristti’s recent Copenhagen exhibition, “And Now You Care,” has ignited fervent debate within the art community and beyond. The installation featured three live piglets—Lucia, Simon, and Benjamin—confined within a cage fashioned from shopping carts, deliberately deprived of sustenance to succumb to starvation. Evaristti’s intent was to cast a stark light on the grim realities of industrial pig farming in Denmark, where approximately 25,000 piglets perish daily due to inadequate breeding conditions.
The exhibit swiftly drew ire from animal welfare organizations and the public alike. Denmark’s Animal Protection Denmark condemned the installation as both illegal and abusive, asserting that while the critique of industrial practices is valid, inflicting suffering on individual animals to make a point is unacceptable.
The narrative took an unexpected turn when the piglets were clandestinely removed by animal rights activists, including Evaristti’s acquaintance, Caspar Steffensen. Motivated by his daughter’s plea to save the animals, Steffensen facilitated the rescue, leading to the closure of the exhibition. Evaristti, initially dismayed by the theft, later expressed solace in the piglets’ improved fate.
This incident has sparked a broader discourse on the ethical implications of using living beings in art to protest animal cruelty. Critics argue that such methods perpetuate the very suffering they aim to denounce, while supporters contend that the shock value is necessary to provoke meaningful reflection and change. Evaristti’s history of controversial works, including previous installations involving live animals, underscores his commitment to challenging societal norms, though not without significant ethical contention.
As the art world grapples with these complex issues, “And Now You Care” serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between artistic expression and ethical responsibility, prompting an ongoing conversation about the role of art in advocating for animal rights without inflicting harm.
