Fresh from his re-imagining of Life of Pi on Shanghai's Huangpu River, acclaimed Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang's latest work Moving Ghost Town is meeting opposition from animal rights activists in America. The exhibit features two African Sulcata tortoises roaming around the museum's roof deck carrying two iPads each, showing video of ghost towns. The videos show footage recorded by the iPad-laden tortoises when they were left to wander in ghost towns around the surrounding valley.
Cai's new exhibit at a Colorado art museum is facing much opposition from animal-rights activists. Angered activist Lisabeth Oden has created a petition describing the "high sensitivity of the tortoises' shells" and has told the Aspen Daily News, "These creatures were not designed to carry 2-pound iPads." Hard to argue on that point.
The tortoises are supposed to be the highlight of the opening, but so far the online petition has garnered 575 signatures. Oden explains:
I normally don’t stick my nose out in public like this — by any sense of the imagination. But to me this is just flat-out animal abuse.
In response to the criticism, the museum's spokeswoman, Sara Fitzmaurice said that the museum does not censor artists. She further commented:
The three [tortoises] are being closely monitored, cared for, checked by a local veterinarian at regular intervals, and are being exhibited in consultation with the Turtle Conservancy
The museum has denied any harm done to the animals and has even issued a statement from a local veterinarian, Dr. Elizabeth Kremzler: "The iPads have not interfered in any way with their natural behavior"
The museum has also stated:
The tortoises were rescued from a breeder and are under a veterinarian's supervision. The iPads have been attached with an epoxy used to attach tracking devices to wild animals.
Following the end of the exhibition on October 5, the tortoises will find new homes in conservation and educational facilities selected in collaboration with the Turtle Conservancy.
The exhibit opens in Aspen this Saturday as part of the public grand opening of the town's new $45 million museum.
PHOTOS: Chinese artist's stateside exhibit featuring tortoises carrying iPads draws the ire of animal-lovers
Cai Guo-Qiang's latest work has run into criticism from animal rights activists in Aspen, Colorado
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