Did a Danish Artist Steal Money or Make Art?
2021-10-01
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1A museum in Denmark gave an artist over $80,000 to create a piece of art for an exhibition about work and money.
2The Kunsten Museum of Modern Art was surprised when Jens Haaning sent two empty canvases.
3He said it was art.
4He called the work "Take the Money and Run."
5The museum paid Haaning about $3,900 to make the art.
6It was supposed to be created from thousands of dollars of bank notes attached to the canvases.
7The museum also gave him the bank notes.
8The work was supposed to be similar to his past works that used the bank notes to show the average yearly wage in Denmark and Austria.
9Haaning told a Danish radio broadcaster: "The artwork is that I have taken the money."
10He did not say where it was, or if he planned to give it back.
11Haaning is known to create art that makes people think.
12He said the art, or lack of art, depending on how you view it, shows his current work status.
13"I encourage others, who have just as miserable working conditions as I, to do the same," Haaning said.
14"If they are being asked to give money to go to work, then take the money and run."
15The Kunsten Museum says the artist broke an agreement that he would make a piece of art.
16However, it has not reported Haaning to the police.
17The exhibition closes in January.
18If he returns the money at that point, it may not.
19Haaning says he did not commit a crime, and what he gave the museum is art.
20I'm Dan Friedell.
1A museum in Denmark gave an artist over $80,000 to create a piece of art for an exhibition about work and money. 2The Kunsten Museum of Modern Art was surprised when Jens Haaning sent two empty canvases. He said it was art. 3He called the work "Take the Money and Run." 4The museum paid Haaning about $3,900 to make the art. It was supposed to be created from thousands of dollars of bank notes attached to the canvases. The museum also gave him the bank notes. 5The work was supposed to be similar to his past works that used the bank notes to show the average yearly wage in Denmark and Austria. 6Haaning told a Danish radio broadcaster: "The artwork is that I have taken the money." 7He did not say where it was, or if he planned to give it back. 8Haaning is known to create art that makes people think. 9He said the art, or lack of art, depending on how you view it, shows his current work status. 10"I encourage others, who have just as miserable working conditions as I, to do the same," Haaning said. "If they are being asked to give money to go to work, then take the money and run." 11The Kunsten Museum says the artist broke an agreement that he would make a piece of art. However, it has not reported Haaning to the police. The exhibition closes in January. If he returns the money at that point, it may not. 12Haaning says he did not commit a crime, and what he gave the museum is art. 13I'm Dan Friedell. 14Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by The Associated Press. Susan Shand was the editor. 15What would you do about the missing money? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 16___________________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18exhibition - n. an event at which objects (such as works of art) are put out in a public space for people to look at : a public show of something 19canvas - n. a specially prepared piece of cloth on which a picture can be painted by an artist 20encourage - v. to tell or advise (someone) to do something 21miserable - adj. very poor in condition or quality