Monkey Art Fools Expert
Status: Art hoax
Dr. Katja Schneider, director of the State Art Museum in Moritzburg, has been embarrassed by mistaking a painting done by Banghi, a 31-year-old female chimp, for a work by the late Ernst Wilhelm Nay:The director of the State Art Museum of Moritzburg in Saxony-Anhalt, Katja Schneider, suggested the painting was by the Guggenheim Prize-winning artist Ernst Wilhelm Nay. "It looks like an Ernst Wilhelm Nay. He was famous for using such blotches of colour," Dr Schneider confidently asserted. The canvas was actually the work of Banghi, a 31-year-old female chimp at the local zoo. While Banghi likes to paint, she is not able to build up much of a body of work as her mate Satscho generally destroys her paintings before they can get to the gallery. But this one survived long enough to give Dr Schneider a red face. "I did think it looked a bit rushed," she told Bild newspaper.
Of course, this isn't the first time monkey art has fooled an expert. The classic case occurred in 1964 when newsmen from Sweden's Göteborgs-Tidningen obtained some paintings by Peter, a four-year-old chimp at the Boras zoo. They hung the paintings in a gallery, claiming they were the work of avant-garde artist Pierre Brassau. And soon the works were drawing critical acclaim. One critic wrote: "Brassau paints with powerful strokes, but also with clear determination. His brush strokes twist with furious fastidiousness. Pierre is an artist who performs with the delicacy of a ballet dancer."
Unfortunately I haven't been able to find examples posted online of the art of either Banghi or Pierre Brassau.
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At the site belonging to the artist who let Peter/Pierre paint, there's a small b&w photo showing the chimp in action, which also gives a very good idea of what his paintings looked like:
http://www.funkegard.se/#konstnaren.html
Posted by UF on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 02:32 AM
http://www.funkegard.se/#konstnaren.html
I have checked the Bild website and I cannnot find any reference to Moritzburg or Banghi. In Google, the only references are themselves references to the rumor.
Does any one know for sure that this is for real, before I forward it to my friends?
Posted by Enrique on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 03:44 AM
Does any one know for sure that this is for real, before I forward it to my friends?
I don't understand what all the hoopla is about concerning contemporary artists, frauds, and the like. After all, for the most part, aren't they all a bunch of liberal, politically correct whackos who believe in evolution in the first place. They should be honored by the fact that somebody has actually made the tie to their roots rather than insulting them... All they did is credit the wrong monkey with the work...
Posted by Christopher in Joplin, Missouri on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 04:35 AM
^^^ Please do like King Kong and jump.
Posted by Craig on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 06:08 AM
As an expert in both contemporary and monkey art, I take exception with Christopher's comments. Although quite similar, there are many stylistic differentions between the two- color, expression- but the biggest difference is in the Ape's use of their own feces in each piece.
Posted by booch on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 10:00 AM
Enrique, I also checked the Bild website and couldn't find anything. I assumed that was because they didn't have the article online. But a lot of other papers have referred to the article, so it would seem that Bild must have printed something. And the details are pretty specific.
Posted by The Curator in San Diego on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 03:49 PM
my question is: why do art critics exist in the first place? and who the hell is paying for these people?
Posted by Tom on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 02:13 AM
Here is a (norwegian) version of the same article, with a reproduction of the art in question: http://pub.tv2.no/nettavisen/skraablikk/article515315
Posted by Bonny on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 05:52 AM
"All they did is credit the wrong monkey with the work."
Rofl! Now I gotta wipe the coffee that erupted outta my nose in laughter off the fpd - or maybe not, it could be art...
Posted by SpiderLee on Thu Dec 22, 2005 at 07:48 PM
Rofl! Now I gotta wipe the coffee that erupted outta my nose in laughter off the fpd - or maybe not, it could be art...
You have to admit, monkeys are freakin' cool.
Posted by Le Homer on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 08:05 AM
:coolsmile: Action painting is about capturing something produced by the subconscious. I don't think that it was ever intended to fool anyone, is it art? Yes, for what it is.
Posted by patrick on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 06:16 AM
Please don't place whacko liberals in the
same category as evolutionists. it's insulting.
besides just because one believes in evolution does not mean that they can't believe in god as well.
but i do agree that most contemporary abstract "art" looks like a primate flung paint at it. and then snobbish critics say how profound it is and it exemplifies the state of modern man..blah blah blah, i went to berkeley...i only wear hemp clothes! i itch constantly, but i'm saving animals and the rainforest and i'm better than you!guns don't kill people irritating hippies do with their incessant nagging!
Posted by cate on Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 01:46 AM
same category as evolutionists. it's insulting.
besides just because one believes in evolution does not mean that they can't believe in god as well.
but i do agree that most contemporary abstract "art" looks like a primate flung paint at it. and then snobbish critics say how profound it is and it exemplifies the state of modern man..blah blah blah, i went to berkeley...i only wear hemp clothes! i itch constantly, but i'm saving animals and the rainforest and i'm better than you!guns don't kill people irritating hippies do with their incessant nagging!
Posted by Mikhail Simkin on Mon Jan 23, 2006 at 07:00 PM
Monkeys paint in sign language. They are probably writing the whole time: You're an Idiot for Liking This. LOL
Posted by PleaseDeleteAccount on Sun Feb 05, 2006 at 02:57 AM
God created man, and God created monkey. He made us in His image. Man shouldn't lower his standards to that of a primate.
The question: "Is it art?" No, if a monkey can pull it off, it shouldn't be praised by anyone.
Realizing that evolution does exist, the 'e' SHOULD stay lower cased until an intermediate form is found; there needs to be proof.
Posted by scott on Fri May 05, 2006 at 06:52 PM
The question: "Is it art?" No, if a monkey can pull it off, it shouldn't be praised by anyone.
Realizing that evolution does exist, the 'e' SHOULD stay lower cased until an intermediate form is found; there needs to be proof.
I kind of wish this is true,it would be way cool if an art critic was painted into a corner like this :coolgrin: I like art but these people have a way of expressing themselves that seem to serve no other purpose than to impress god-knows-who.
Posted by nitedrive on Tue Aug 01, 2006 at 01:07 AM
BBC: Monday, 20 June, 2005
Bidders go ape for chimpanzee art
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4109664.stm
Three abstract paintings by a chimpanzee named Congo have been sold for
Posted by beng on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Bidders go ape for chimpanzee art
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4109664.stm
Three abstract paintings by a chimpanzee named Congo have been sold for
whatever people think, animal art has does have one good use for raising money for wildlife projects.
to bad some idiots have to try and exploit the apes
Posted by klee on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:13 PM
to bad some idiots have to try and exploit the apes
{stupid336x280}
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