Press Release White Trash Contemporary Gallery, Hamburg
STOCK EXCHANGE BULL CASTRATED!
The sculpture “Bull and Bear” in front of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, a symbol for strong stock markets bursting with testosterone, was symbolically unmanned in an art action.
On 20 February the “Frankfurt Bulle”, a bronze animal sculpture “Bull and Bear” in front of the German Stock Exchange, was symbolically castrated. In a performative action, the Hamburg-based artist Baldur Burwitz took a cast of the bull’s testicles. The unmanning action was meant as an ironic commentary on the international financial crisis. Already after five minutes the stock exchange’s security staff terminated the action, temporarily arrested the artists involved, but then released them after extensive discussions. They were allowed to keep the plaster cast of the bull’s testicles (refer to report by the security agency Argus of 20 Feb. 2009).
This symbolic emasculation, according to Burwitz, is intended to drastically reveal how fast the once influential financial markets have degenerated into impotent recipients of hand-outs. From the plaster cast, the artist has meanwhile moulded a bronze-coloured sculpture which is displayed in a glass show case. The sculpture taken from the stock exchange bull with the title “Peanuts” is currently being presented at the Hamburg-based gallery “White Trash Contemporary” within the exhibition CASH FLOW. In order to underline the public character of the art action, the sculpture will be put up for auction on the online platform eBay starting 4 March 2009 until 14 March 2009.
>>Link ebay
For additional information and artwork, please contact the White Trash Contemporary Gallery under infowtc@mac.com or +49-40-36099935.