SINGAPORE: A Singapore Art Museum exhibition has drawn criticism from the public. An installation using butterfly and bee specimens has attracted the concern of a local conservationist group.
109 butterflies were pierced neatly on dinner plates, supposedly symbolising the relationship between the powerful and powerless in Indonesia.
The installation belongs to Indonesian artist FX Harsono.
And it's being skewered by 40 members from an online social network called, ButterflyCircle.
They're concerned the insects might have been deliberately killed.
Chir Chor Pang, conservationist & member, ButterflyCircle, said: "It's a disgusting display of butterflies. There's no running away from suspecting that these butterflies are pristine and live specimens - purposely selected by the artist through his request, and mounted in the fashion that they're presented."
But the museum said the artist had acquired the specimens from farms in Indonesia.
Tan Boon Hui, director, Singapore Art Museum, said: "These were insects collected at the end of their lives and immediately treated by a taxidermist and formed into the posture or shape that he requires for the installation."
Some visitors were not as affected.
"Even if it's ugly and it offends people, at least I know that this man is trying to create a social or political message," said one visitor.
"He has not crossed any ethical boundaries because the bees and butterflies were already dead before they were pierced," said another visitor.
FX Harsono's exhibits have attracted 25,000 visitors since March and will be on display till May. - CNA/vm
Work of art or act of cruelty?
by Evelyn Choo and Seet Sok Hwee, Today Online 7 Apr 10;
SINGAPORE - A Singapore Art Museum (SAM) exhibit showing 109 butterflies pierced neatly onto dinner plates (picture) is being skewered online.
The display - which also includes some bees - is supposed to symbolise the relationship between the powerful and powerless in Indonesia, and is the work of Indonesian artist FX Harsono.
Local conservationist group ButterflyCircle is concerned that the butterflies had been deliberately killed.
About 40 of its members have gone online to voice their disapproval.
"It's a disgusting display of butterflies. There's no running away from suspecting that these butterflies are pristine and live specimens - purposely selected by the artist through his request, and mounted in the fashion that they're presented," said conservationist and ButterflyCircle member Chir Chor Pang.
But according to the museum, the artist had acquired the specimens from farms in Indonesia.
Said SAM director Tan Boon Hui: "These were insects collected at the end of their lives, and immediately treated by a taxidermist, and formed into the posture or shape that he required for the installation."
The display is part of the FX Harsono: Testimonies exhibition that has so far attracted 25,000 visitors since March 4. The exhibition ends on Friday.
Related links
Murder in the name of Art? from Butterflies of Singapore.