"Take the Money and Run," by Jens Haaning, at the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art in Aalborg, Denmark. © Niels Fabæk / Kunsten Museum of Modern Art
Artist claims this is a breach of contract
A Danish museum gave an artist more than $ 84,000 to make a work of art. The artist provided two blank canvases in return. "Take the Money and Run", by Jens Haaning, is a new work of art that the artist describes as a commentary on low wages. He specifies, however, that this is not a case of theft. The artist claims that this is a breach of contract, and the breach of contract is part of the work. The artwork, "is that I took their money," Haaning said.
The Aalborg Art Museum in Denmark does not accept this explanation, but that hasn't stopped them from exhibiting both canvases as part of their Work It Out exhibition, which examines the connection between people. and their work.
The artist's unexpected performance prompted many questions and requests for information. According to the Kunsten, who claims to have loaned Haaning more than 500,000 crowns so that he could frame the silver on a work, Haaning received the money as part of an agreement with the Kunsten. To illustrate the difference in average annual income between Denmark and Austria, the artist uses two canvases, one larger than the other. Haaning shipped two large crates to the museum before the work-themed exhibition opened. However, when the packages were opened, two blank canvases were discovered by the employees. Kunsten Museum Director General Lasse Andersson told NPR he "laughed when he saw this." He added that the museum became concerned when Haaning revealed that he had created an artwork titled "Take the Money and Run".
He even encourages other people to do the same
When the package arrived, the museum received a flood of emails. "The new work reminds us that we are working for money when in the beginning it was money that was supposed to create a work of art," Andersson says of Haaning's latest effort.
After rejecting the idea of reproducing works more than ten years old, Haaning said he decided to keep the money he had earned. It was more important for him to create something that dealt with his current professional situation, he explained. He even encourages others who have working conditions as miserable as his to do the same. According to him, if someone does a crappy job without pay and is asked for money in exchange for going to work, he should just take the money and run away.
It would have cost Haaning around 25,000 crowns to create his work, which he said constitutes an unfair charge. According to the museum's contract, Haaning will be paid up to 6,000 euros ($ 7,000) for his time and efforts. In addition, the artist will receive 10,000 crowns as well as a "right of inspection" determined by the government within the framework of this agreement.
Kunsten Museum of Modern Art Aalborg Denmark
Museum says it produced thought-provoking work of art
However, although Haaning signed a contract promising to deliver the work and return the $ 84,000 to the Kunsten, the museum has not taken any legal action. The artist now has until the exhibition closes on January 16 to return the money to the museum. The museum says it is in touch with Haaning about the delay and acknowledges that he produced a thought-provoking piece of art. According to Mr. Andersson, "it was not what we had agreed in the contract, but Haaning provided us with a new and interesting work".
Haaning is a well-known Danish artist who drew attention to himself by painting the Dannebrog, the red and white national flag of Denmark, green. He also "moved a car dealership and massage clinic to exhibition buildings."
Selena Mattei