A video by Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed, titled Spring, 2013, for the exhibition The Antidote was accused of animal cruelty, though it was created to fight it.
Adel Abdessemed’s Spring, 2013. Source: Blaise Adilon/Artforum
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Lyon had to withdraw the video by Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed from the show.
The artwork features flaming chickens, but the fire is not real – the video was created using special effects. The piece is dedicated to problems of cruel treatment of animals. Protesters launched a campaign on social media, calling to stop displaying “animal torture”.
The description of the work says no animal was hurt. The video was shown in a separate room. Visitors could read a warning about a possible negative reaction before they enter. However, visitors and animal rights activists demanded that the exhibition should be closed. The museum talked to the author, and he agreed to withdraw his video from the show, Artforum reports.
It’s not the first time when animal rights activists have stood against displaying videos featuring animal cruelty. We earlier wrote that the Guggenheim Museum had to turn to self-censorship for the safety of its staff, which caused criticism from several media.
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