Dead Dog as Art?

To Costa Rican "artist" Guillermo "Habacuc" Vargas it is. He found a dog on the street, paid two children to catch him and bring him back to him, tied him up, and gave explicit instructions for the dog to not be fed. Obviously, the dog died.

Habacuc's exhibition included a legend spelled out in dog food reading "You are what you read," photos and an incense burner that burned an ounce of marijauna and 175 "rock' of crack cocaine. In the background, according to reports, the Sandista national anthem played backwards.

According to the artist, his "art" was a tribute to Natividad Canda, a Nicaraguan thief who entered an auto shop at 11 pm, with two other people in Costa Rica. He was attacked and subsequently killed by two guard dogs, who guarded the business after hours. There is some controversy on how he died as the article reports the police did not attempt to shoot the dogs for fear of wounding the man, and that video shot showed the dogs walk away from the man and walk back without the police doing anything to get the lifeless man out of the situation. Habacuc told the daily La Nacion, "I won't say the dog died. The importance to me is the hypocracy of the people where an animal is the focus of attention where people come to see art but not when it's in the street starving to death."

"The same thing happened with poor Natividad Canda. The people sympathized with him only after he was dead," the artist added.

After the dog died and his exhibit became "art". He's been chosen to represent Costa Rica in the "Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008".

More information on Natividad Canda, in this ticotimes.net article.

So, this guy felt that killing this dog was an appropriate punishment for society letting this thief die while trying to enter someone else's property after business hours? Then his country gives him an award!?
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EXHIBITION IS TAKING PLACE AT:

Email Address:
info@madc.ac.cr

Location:
Centro Nacional de la Cultura
Antigua Fábrica Nacional de Licores.
Avenida 3, calle 15/17. San José, Costa Rica.
Teléfono: (506) 257 7202 / 257 9370
Fax: (506) 257 8702

Sample Letter to Send the Gallery
I am writing regarding the horrifying actions of Guillermo Habacuc Vargas,who paid local children to catch a dog on the street and then confined,starved and publicly displayed the dog as an “art” exhibit until the innocent animal died of starvation.

I along with many people world wide am outraged t hat Guillermo habacuc Vargas has been selected to represent Costa Rica in “Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008″,This man is by no definition of the word an artist he is a criminally insane sadist and enjoys inflicting prolonged suffering upon his innocent victims.he is a danger to all of society as it is well documented that those with the capacity to intentionally cause harm to an animal have the same capacity to harm humans.

To state that this animal would have died eventually of natural causes is unjustifiable and beyond logical,rational thinking.

To allow Guillermo habacuc Vargas to represent Costa Rica in Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008 will in no way benefit Costa Rica,the world is watching and the actions of this so called artist has brought much negative assumptions as to the humanity of the people of Costa Rica and the fact that the many witnesses of this animals suffering did nothing and that the organizers of this event allowe d this rather than taking action to see that Guillermo Vargas be criminally charged with animal abuse is sending the world a message that Costa Rica consists of a cruel,uncivilized society that has no regard for life but enjoys viewing and contributing to the loss of life.

Each and every person who knew of and witnessed the suffering of this innocent dog is equally as guilty of causing it’s uncalled for death.

And to let this crime go unpunished and instead be awarded by Guillermo Vargas representing Costa Rica in Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008 is unacceptable and shameful not only to Costa Rica but to all participants of this event.

I urge you,do not condone the heinous actions of Guillermo Vargas by allowing him to participation in Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008.He should be jailed and prosecuted to the fullest extent of law for this animals death,not representing Costa Rica as an artist for he is not an artist and to refer to him as such is an insult to all true artists.

Sincerely,
Your Name

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ANOTHER GALLERY SHOWING HIS WORK
This is the email address to a gallery which currently holds some of Vargas’ work for display and for sale if anyone would like to ask the gallery to drop him from their list of artists their email address is below.
EMail: info@jacobkarpio-galeria.com