Artist and His Dog

The Costa Rican artist Guillermo Vargas, better known as Habacuc, is surrounded in a big controversy because of the death of a street dog in Exhibit No. 1 in an art show that took place last August in Managua (Nicaragua).

Defenders of animals in Costa Rica learned of his work through a blog yesterday and accused him of cruelty.

As part of his presentation, the artist showed the viewer a street dog, weak, sick and hungry tied in the corner of the room. He captured the animal in a poor district of Managua.

The dog died after a day at the exhibition, as was confirmed to The Nation Marta Leonor Gonzalez, editor of the cultural supplement of La Prensa in Nicaragua.

The exhibition also included the phrase, written with dog food, "You are what you read"; As well as an audio with the Sandinista anthem backwards, photos and a burner, which burned 175 rocks of crack cocaine and an ounce of marijuana.

Habacuc said yesterday that his work was a tribute to Natividad Canda, a Nicaraguan who died after being attacked by two Rottweilers in a workshop in Carthage.

"I cannot say whether it is true or not that the dog died. The important thing for me was the hypocrisy of people: an animal thus becomes the focus of attention when you put in a place where white people go to see art but not when it is on the street dying of hunger. The same happened to Natividad Canda, people ignored him until the dog ate him, "he said.

He added: "Nobody came to free the dog nor give food or call the police. Nobody did anything. "

When questioned about whether or not he fed the animal, the artist refused to respond.

Why not use other means of expression? "I took what I saw ...the dog is more alive than ever because people continue to speak of it, "he said.

Several advocates of animal rights repudiated the work of Habakkuk, saying it was unacceptable art and suggested that the artist be excluded from Central Honduras Biennial 2008 (he will be one of the six representatives of the country).

"I cannot stand to see that which promotes cruelty to animals in a work of art. Submit a letter to prohibit cruelty in the arts and ask that this guy not be allowed to represent the country in the biennial, "said Gina Malavassi, defender of animals.

Jose Morales, vice president of the Special Unit for Animal Protection and Rescue, said. "The dog was tied and without food; I do not understand how that is art. "

These organizations and Humanitarian Association for Animal Protection are studying the case.

by: Doriam Diaz | ddiaz@nacion.com