uan Cai, and Jian Jun Xi, two artists previously arrested for "attacking" Tracy Emin's My Bed in the Tate Gallery returned, this time to the Tate Modern to piss on Marcel Duchamp's Fountain one of the urinals he signed "R.Mutt in 1917.
Predictably, the Tate was unimpressed issuing a statement "The pleasure of our visitors has twice been disrupted by two artists who have threatened works of art and our staff" [1]
The artists, Chinese nationals who view the city of London as their canvas "describe themselves as 'heroes... ahead of our time', searching for a 'new route' in art." [2]
Their critics believe otherwise "In art there are expressionists, cubists and opportunists -- that's the new movement and that's what they are," said David Lee, editor of the art magazine The Jackdraw. [3]
When asked the reasoning behind the Duchamp action they replied "The urinal is there - it's an invitation," says Cai. "As Duchamp said himself, it's the artist's choice. He chooses what is art. We just added to it." [4]
Yuan and Jian see themselves as outsiders of the art mainstream and are intent on creating a new way to look at art and indeed it seems they will go to lengths other artists would baulk at in the name of art, from stuffing chili's up their nostrils for a week, to eating each others shit.
Other actions include Naked Soy Sauce and Ketchup Fight At Buckingham Palace, Two Artists swim across the Thames, Two artists run naked across Westminster Bridge with Tony Bear and the famed Two Naked Men Jump Into Tracey's Bed which brought them to worldwide attention.
1.
'It's
a new Cultural Revolution'
Nick Paton Walsh Sunday June 11, 2000 The Observer
An interesting and highly entertaining review of the pairs actions
which also contains some interesting facts about art vandalism and
those that commit it.
2. Ibid
3.
Guerrilla
artists' defend their pranks
Associated Press. CNN.com September 12, 2000
4.
'It's
a new Cultural Revolution'
Nick Paton Walsh Sunday June 11, 2000 The Observer
Tracey Emin's My Bed, 1998/1999
Deborah Cherry , Sharp Journal
Feathers fly at art show
BBC News Sunday, October 24, 1999
Stunt artists bare all for London
Saturday, 29 July, 2000,
Marcel Duchamp, Fountain 1917, replica 1964; Porcelain
Two artists piss on Duchamp's urinal, 2000
Yuan Cai and Jian Jun Xi
My Bed
Tracy Emin
Marcel Duchamp