The Starving Dog Artist: A Diagnosis

I'm asked to comment on psychiatric diagnoses all the time, from Robert Blake by Nancy Grace, to astronaut Lisa Nowak by Soledad O'Brien. I've done the prognosis for everyone from children of polygamist cults to American's Dumbest Criminals on TruTV. For the last two weeks my mailbox has filled with queries about "the starving dog artist."

For those of you that haven't gotten the email, there's one going 'round asking you to sign the petition seeking to prevent Guillermo Vargas from representing Costa Rica in an upcoming multinational art exhibition (Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008). His display of August 2007 in Nicaragua that featured a stray dog captured from the streets and confined on a bare art gallery floor without food, water, or bedding until it starved to death. The artist's goal was supposedly to show the hypocrisy of people's making a sick and ill-fed dog the center of attention at an art exhibit despite the fact that many of them would ignore the same dog on the streets.

Diagnosis: At the very least Vargas has traits of antisocial personality disorder, grandiose and narcissistic personality disorder, and a peppering of delusions.

The line between chronicling cruelty and staging is clear to most. Treating the dog as an object, for "art's" sake shows pathological malevolence. And, though I know I'll get slack for saying this, I'll go so far as to say that dying dog + letters made from dog food on the wall + furnace burning 175 vials of crack + the Sandinista hymn playing backward, does not art make.

His sadism is apparent not only in his treatment of the dog, but in his mocking of the audience. If he had really been trying to make a well thought out point regarding how we choose our charities (which is a fascinating topic) he still might have donated funds toward an overwhelmed local shelter -- or at least let us know about it. Fact is the Humane Society is backed by 10 million Americans, PETA has 1.8 million members, and the ASPCA has 680,000. Are there rules that need to be changed and lives that need to be saved all over the world? Yes. Absolutely. But he doesn't strike me as part of the solution, in any way.

The bottom line is that it is much harder to make art that is inspirational, controversial, and empowering (this hot mess of a show sounded like the leftovers of a meth lab raid). It's much easier to shock people with ugliness or cruelty and then pride yourself that you are misunderstood and edgy. I would guess there is a theme in Vargas' life related to not belonging (with his family and/or with his peers) and he's probably never experienced himself as original, clever, or talented.

Someone called him the "Michael Vick of Art."

Many people have asked me, "What do we do with the sad helplessness that this kind of news makes us feel?" Firstly, stop calling him an artist. Secondly, write hard copy letters to Ministry of Art and Culture of Costa Rica and to museum officials that chose to continue to showcase him. Thirdly, donate to the shelter where the dog was caught and support The World Society for the Protection of Animals. And lastly, go see some real inspiring productions -- something like Koyaniskatsi, or one of Eve Ensler's productions, or you might be able to still get into Burning Man if you hurry.

Comments

[dragkingmax]

Also, here's a link to the WSPA if people want to donate there as well: http://www.wspa.org.uk/. They are a fantastic organization; I am a regular supporter of their work. I think supporting organizations like these, as everyone has been saying, is truly the best way to combat such cruelty.

[riotforchange]

I can't stop thinking about this. The sad part is that I agree with his point, but the way he went about proving it was just so gruesome and horrible. It's like he viewed that poor dog as literally a sacrificial lamb . . . but we are supposed to be a civilized society that doesn't do things like that! And then I think -- well, does the fact that I am spending so much time thinking about this mean that he accomplished his goal? And then that makes me even sicker . . .

[fancyfree]

One function of art is, indeed, to make people think about an issue; however, literally recreating a scene from real life in a museum does not make art. A true artist magnifies nuances and shades of an issue in order to eduction....to enable observers to see things from an angle they wouldn't have come to on their own. Only then can one hope for reform and change.

If the artist's only goal was to show the world the plight of dogs in Costa Rica, he should have raised money for PSA.

[writeforlife]

Yes, as far as the diagnosis of this man is concerned: as a therapist I absolutely agree with Dr. Vranich's appraisal of his mental afflictions. People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder lack empathy -- that is the hallmark trait. I also wonder if this man is a sociopath -- a person who can only conceive of others in terms of how he can use them. Regardless, these are certainly the actions of a highly-disturbed individual who is selfish in the extreme, and needs serious help.

[photojane]

One more thing -- I wanted to thank Dr. Vranich for posting this link: http://www.mckee-jaco.com/aboutus.htm. I am planning on donating at least $20 in memory of the dog slain for this exhibition.

[artsandcrafts]

Absolutely -- thank you -- the best thing we can all do if we are outraged by this atrocity is to take action. Donate, volunteer -- anything we can do. I will definitely check out that link as well -- thanks photojane for drawing attention to it and thank you Dr. Vranich for reiterating that positive action is the only productive outlet for anger when an injustice like this occurs.

[photojane]

I know that as a photographer, and therefore an artist, I am constantly being faced with ethical questions about my subjects. Artists, or at least relevant artists, are depicting the depths of the human condition, and that sometimes takes us into shaky ethical territory. All this man managed to "prove" is that art without ethics is literally deadly. Thank you, Dr, Vranich, for drawing attention to this atrocity. I hope all people, but particularly artists, will learn something from this and always hold ourselves accountable for any suffering, physical or psychological, our work could potentially cause.

[magneato]

I was hoping this was a joke or red herring, but I guess I shouldn't be shocked by our capacity for cruelty. By the way, doc, it's Koyaanisqatsi.

[CSnDC]

No one should be the judge of art, however, offensive to my or to others sensibilites it may be. Jackson Pollock was and still is deemed by many to NOT be art, however, Jackson Pollock never produced his art through cruel and inhumane treatment of life in order to produce his art. The fact that this man produces "art" by creating suffereing and death is not only disgusting but should NEVER be accepted as art.

[Paintingislife]

Link to the "gallery" exhibiting the work of this human garbage:

http://www.galeriacodice.com/

[nammy50]

Comments rightly tackled the inhumane treatment of this poor creature. But lets also look at what can be called art.

It seems that anyone can throw together an idea (or inhumane act) and call it art as long as they can keep a straight face. The problem is, the so-called art establishment goes along with it.

Art? No.
Inhumane? Yes.

[IzzyDunne]

By the law of attraction, Guillermo will be made to suffer greatly.

[Alexande]

It was a hoax a performance piece, the dog never starved to death. Do a little research before you whine in righteous indignation. Certainly worked to show where your priorities are.

[peacekitten]

post creditable sources to support your facts. simply because you say it didn't happen doesn't mean it didn't.

and how dare you chastise ANYONE for having compassion enough to be outraged at such an act of cruelty. the waste of protoplasm who did this and called it art has no right to call himself either an artist or a human being.

[Owlygirl]

Well said, peacekitten. Thank you. Some people just like to b**ch for the sake of b**ching. He's certainly revealed what's lacking in his genetic make-up.

[villagetwist]

I know a suffering animal when I see one and I know a bunch of people standing around chatting and ignoring that suffering. We should just take their word for it that the animal was fine???? Doesn't look like it.

[ENK727]

I agree whether it was a hoax or not that photo is very disturbing with those people just standing around and chatting. How could they not have been outraged by seeing this. Sick!! I'm getting tired of people calling garbage "art" like this and that other fool from Yale.

[Jkw514]

Actually, you are incorrect. This did happen. A good friend of mine lives in Costa Rica and this was all over La Nacion (the national newspaper) afterwards. People in Costa Rica did not realize at the time that this was happening since the event took place last fall in another country. Plus, it's all over the web now. Do YOUR research before you pass stuff like this off.

[YankeeCanuck]

Since when is compassion for a creature subjected to real or simulated abuse a "priority" that is to be denigrated?

[rivrgrrl]

May he come back in is next life as a donkey in Afghanistan.

[culturalbreakdown]

While you guys decry a dying dog, what of the dying, starving people on the streets? You may say that you've done "enough," but ultimately it is not adequate to prevent the deaths of the 40,000 people who die daily.

Performance art is meant to be shocking. In a sense, the artist has been successful due to the strong responses to the piece; however, the commenters here are missing the point - there are countless more stray dogs that are ignored and die on the streets. I do not encourage his actions, but I do not condone the increase of exposure (proven here) which may lead to action.

[peacekitten]

just because you may see a murder committed does not mean you miss the point of the idea that there are thousands of others that are also committed every day.

there is no justification for brutality for any reason. period.

i have worked in animal rescue for far too long to know that the sort of "person" who would do this to an already abused dog would have no hesitation in doing the same sort of thing to a person.

open your eyes. this was wrong, brutal and a cheap theatrical display that took the life of an innocent soul entirely for the vanity of the "artist." it doesn't get much more disgusting than that.

[Owlygirl]

Step into the present you fool. Your argument is outdated and as stale as your compassion. Humanity exists for both man and beast - it is not mutually exclusive. And don't condescend to teach anyone here about what "performance art" is. No one asked for clarification. They object to this TORTURE. Really, who among us is dumb enough to call a criminal act art? You? Then indeed you're the one in need of education.

[mediatron]

No, I'm pretty sure humanity is reserved for, y'know, humans. Perhaps you meant the value of a human life is equal to that of another animal, which is fine, but please don't use pedantic terminology like that.

[QueenCeleste]

I feel sick. How he hell was this allowed? Why did no one step in to save the dog? I can only feel that an eye for an eye justice should be employed. The fact that torture was displayed as "art" is atrocious. Just no words for it....

[mdhatter]

if torture can be justice, then it can be art.

I'm not saying I agree, but there's a point in there somewhere.

[peacekitten]

torture is NEVER justice.

it doesn't matter what skin covers the living being that is suffering.

[misanthropist]

Sorry but do the people who are outraged about this eat meat and support the meat industry? Where animals get no chance at life and are abused and then killed on a daily basis? Mmmhmm..

[XCITIZEN]

Very good point, but do people who oppose the eating of meat (because it kills animals) also rush to boycott bug sprays, exterminator services, and rat traps - after all, bugs and rats should not be destroyed simply because we don't like them, should they?

Unfortunately, people who are radical and desperate to 'save the animals' from the food industry are basically desperate to save animals that appeal to them - the warm and cuddly ones. Forget about the rest of the animals. Lizards, mice, insects. I eat meat, and I agree, that the industry needs to be reformed. But I'm not going to stop eating meat.

I agree that the artist is narcissistic and a sadist. But isn't modern society also narcissistic and sadistic? I think the answer is yes.

[peacekitten]

it is still no excuse for cruelty, ever. there isn't one that has been made up yet that justifies the knowing infliction of wanton pain by one living being on another.

[sarge311]

HuffPost's Pick

You make a good point about people who don't eat meat but see no problem in the killing of rats, bugs or anything else that isn't warm or cuddly. I am a vegetarian and I don't fall into that category. I will not kill anything that is alive, wear anything from animal products or eat anything made from animals. Some people think that's extreme but how can I protest about seals being killed in Canada or be outraged over this poor defenseless dog if I kill a fly or wear leather shoes? It's hypocritcal and phony.