Dwarf to Live in Box, Effect on Chile Undetermined

[Monte Smith]

I think we're approaching the limit of the law of diminishing returns here.

Dwarf to live in glass box for art exhibition
Ananova.com

A Chilean artist has persuaded a dwarf to live inside a glass box for a month as part of a new exhibition.



Roberto Avendano will live inside the one cubic metre glass box, eight hours a day, for a month.

Artist Luis Guerra told Las Ultimas Noticias online: "It might be disturbing for some people but I believe that this is one of the objectives of art.

"Roberto will have a chair, a TV and a magazine rack. He will eat his food inside the box and will be allowed to leave to go to the toilet, during which time we will put up a sign saying 'artwork has gone to the toilet'."

Mr Avandano added: "I am very patient so it won't be a problem to remain inside the box."

The exhibit is at Centro de Arte Experimental museum in Santiago and is part of a bigger exhibition where artists had to create works that could fit in one cubic metre.

'artwork has gone to the toilet'

Dammitt, I've been saying this for YEARS!!!!!!

[steve(thelil)]

Seems to me that if they let him go to the toilet it takes all of the magic out of the whole thing.

[patricia]

Originally posted by steve(thelil)
Seems to me that if they let him go to the toilet it takes all of the magic out of the whole thing.

Exactly. Admitting that he is a real person and not a toy, by allowing him to perform natural human functions, would certainly take away much of his magical appeal. To enclose an actual human being in a box for a month, because he is a dwarf to be stared at would certainly cramp the exhibition's style.
How is this proposed art exhibit different from the travelling freak shows that we now abhor, due to our heightened sensitivity to height-challenged and other challenged individuals, which we used to, without embarrassment, refer to as freaks?? We don't do that anymore, do we???
Ridiculous!!

[Monte Smith]

Originally posted by patricia
Exactly. Admitting that he is a real person and not a toy, by allowing him to perform natural human functions, would certainly take away much of his magical appeal. To enclose an actual human being in a box for a month, because he is a dwarf to be stared at would certainly cramp the exhibition's style.
How is this proposed art exhibit different from the travelling freak shows that we now abhor, due to our heightened sensitivity to height-challenged and other challenged individuals, which we used to, without embarrassment, refer to as freaks?? We don't do that anymore, do we???
Ridiculous!!

Right! But enclose him in a box for 44 days, and never see him crap, and also let him not be dwarf, and dangle him above the Thames--

AND IT 'S MAGIC!

[patricia]

Originally posted by Monte Smith
Right! But enclose him in a box for 44 days, and never see him crap, and also let him not be dwarf, and dangle him above the Thames--

AND IT 'S MAGIC!

So, you see a parallel between David Blaine's dangling above the Thames and this. beyond the glass box aspect??
At least with dwarf-tossing, the intent was clear, to exploit the dwarf for amusement.
What is the point to having a dwarf live in a glass box for people to stare at, beyond stupidness??
Monte, if we dangled you above some local river in a glass box, who would care??

[mke]

It seems like this is an ongoing series in Chile. Some years ago they had a woman living in a transparent box (possibly suspended?). Iirc, she never left it, but I don't remember if the bathroom was opaque or not.

[jeff54]

What the f**k is the big deal. I live in a box for at least 8 hours a day, except they call mine an office. Ok I get to make the occasional post to the Alley while I'm in it but otherwise it's got to be as least as degrading for me as it is for that guy in Chile, and at least no one can just come barging in his box and be anoying.
Sorry I'm having bad day.

[Al in NYC]

OK, but do they let you leave to go to the bathroom?

[jeff54]

Yes, but only twice a day and they don't refer to me as "artwork" on the sign they make me put up when I go.