These pictures have created an international crisis, and rightly so. Animal lovers everywhere are outraged, horrified and heartbroken over the abuse of this helpless, sick, and unwanted dog and many petitions have been started to blacklist this self proclaimed artist from exhibiting anywhere, particularly in the upcoming 2008 Central American Biennial Visual Art Exhibit in Nicaragua.....an event he was invited to participate in.....again.....as he received an award for a different art object in 2006. "The Exhibitor", a resident of Costa Rica; along with the Codex Art Gallery in Managua, Nicaragua (where the pictures of this poor dog were taken); and, the CEO of HIVOS, the Netherlands organization that helps fund the Biennial Central American Visual Art Exhibit, apparently believe the humiliation and exploitation of a starving animal to be ART!!! Sadly there are no laws against animal abuse in Nicaragua and I fear the same is true of Costa Rica and Salvador so The Exhibitor won't be prosecuted. This speaks loudly of the cultures in Central American countries in general, and those individuals who advocate for, or promote by attending, or otherwise choose to involve themselves in..... this atrocity.
The 2006 CA Biennial Visual Art Exhibit held in Salvador contained many theatrical exhibits that embraced both deviant and graphic socio-political impressions. Please note that this exhibit has no title. Also note the lack of food, water and a bed in the pictures Apparently not one person stepped up to put a stop to it, but word got out anyway.
For more information , first go to
http://www.blog.peta.org/archives/2008/04/artist_starving.php
then to the petition link
http://www.petitiononline.com/ea6gk/petition.html.
you can also sign the petition on any of the numerous web sites and blogs.
http://www.care2.com/news/member/682651244/541065 contains translated correspondence from Costa Rica
http://www.urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_starving_dog_art.htm
http://www.dead-mime.deviantart.com/journal/15272336/ translated petition and correspondence from Costa Rica
http://www.artnexus.com/NewsDetail/17950
or get more involved write the following sites.
1. http://www.hivos.nl/english (Humanistisch Insituut voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking). You can email them at info@hivos.nl to request that there will NEVER be inhumane treatment, abuse or suffering of any kind known by any other name, allowed to any living thing in any exhibit. AND that Guillermo Vargas Habacuc be blacklisted from exhibiting anything at any time anywhere.
2. info@madc.ac.cr 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
3. http://www.worldanimalnet.org/new.asp? to search for animal protection agencies in the Latin American/Caribean area. This site recommended by the Animal legal defence fund.
4. http://www.humanesocietycabo.com HSCSL board of directors