Guggenheim, Bowing to Animal-Rights Activists, Pulls Works From Show
By MATTHEW HAAGSEPT. 25, 2017
Photo Huang Yong Ping’s “Theater of the World,” which features live insects and reptiles. Credit Huang Yong Ping/Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
Facing an avalanche of criticism, the Guggenheim surrendered late Monday and said it would remove three major works from a highly anticipated exhibition of art by Chinese conceptual artists, including the signature piece of the show, which opens next month.
The museum, in Manhattan, made the decision after it had come under unrelenting pressure from animal-rights supporters and critics over works in the exhibition, “Art and China After 1989: Theater of the World.” Protesters marched outside the museum over the weekend, and an online petition demanding “cruelty-free exhibits” at the Guggenheim had been signed by more than half a million people as of Monday night.
The three works, which all involve animals, are “Dogs That Cannot…
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Exposing the Big Game 
Although I am very happy that these elements of this exhibit are being pulled, I think it is reprehensible that the Guggenheim only did so begrudgingly, and continues to defend that these acts of abuse are “art” stating, “Although these works have been exhibited in museums in Asia, Europe and the United States, the Guggenheim regrets that explicit and repeated threats of violence have made our decision necessary.”
Really they only took these works out because they felt threatened?? Too bad art connoisseurs won’t have a chance to reflect on the challenges of globalization….rarely have I read a bigger “crock” from the art world than this piece.
At least they pulled some of these exhibits. I was very disappointed by the NYT too, with the blaring headline that it was because of animal rights activists’ pressure and threats. The internet was lit up with negative comments from the general public too – not just animal rights activists! They can cry about freedom of expression all they want, but if it isn’t something the public wants to see, they won’t show it. People don’t want a glorified P.T. Barnum show, and his words were never more true. There was a distasteful exhibit with a human corpse too, from what I understand.
It’s getting difficult to tell which political party are the good guys anymore, it seems, at least as far as the environment and animal welfare is concerned.
A huge amount of comments were prefaced by ‘I don’t like PETA/I’m not an animal rights person, but…..’
Right, no one wants to be one of those persons…