In an unexpected twist to an already controversial art exhibit in Denmark, three piglets part of a provocative installation highlighting the cruelty of mass meat production were stolen by animal rights activists.
The incident forced the exhibition, titled “And Now You Care,” to shut down, sparking global debate about art, ethics, and activism.
The Chilean-born artist Marco Evaristti revealed Wednesday that the piglets, named Lucia, Simon, and Benjamin, had been taken by activists with the assistance of his friend, Caspar Steffensen.
The installation, which opened last week in Copenhagen, featured the piglets confined in a cage made from shopping carts, where they were deliberately starved to death to symbolize the harsh realities of industrial pig farming.
Evaristti reported the theft to police on Saturday but was taken aback when Steffensen confessed his involvement three days later.
“I called up police on Saturday to report the piglets stolen and I had to shut down the entire exhibition because of that so I was very disappointed when Caspar told me on Tuesday that he was involved in the theft,” Evaristti said, admitting he had received hate mail over the controversial exhibit. “But then I thought about it for a few hours and realized that at least this way the piglets would have a happy life.”
Copenhagen police confirmed the report of the stolen pigs, while Evaristti’s exhibition has become a lightning rod for criticism from animal rights groups according to APnews.
Steffensen explained that his decision to help free the piglets stemmed from his daughter’s emotional plea.
“My 10-year-old daughter begged me to ‘make sure the piggies won’t die,’” he said. “So when I was approached by an activist to help free the animals, I let them into the gallery secretively on Saturday.”
Initially, Steffensen planned to keep the rescue secret. However, the animal advocacy group De Glemte Danske (The Forgotten Danes) publicly claimed responsibility for the piglets’ liberation on Tuesday, exposing the operation.
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Evaristti defended his installation, claiming the purpose was to expose the cruelty of modern pig farming in Denmark.
“People don’t get that my art is about animal rights,” he stated.
Denmark is a major player in the global pork industry, with sows bred to produce up to 20 piglets at a time. However, with only 14 teats per sow, many piglets are left to starve. Animal Protection Denmark has long criticized these practices, which Evaristti sought to confront through his art.
Despite the artist’s intentions, critics argue that the exhibit crossed ethical boundaries. Several animal rights organizations welcomed the awareness-raising efforts but condemned the method of starving live animals.
Evaristti remains undeterred by the backlash and is already reimagining ways to revive the exhibition. Among his proposals is the use of dead piglets sourced from meat processing plants or auctioning live piglets to individuals who promise them a humane life.
While Evaristti’s installation aimed to provoke dialogue on animal rights, it has instead become a battleground for ethics and activism. The fate of the stolen piglets may remain uncertain, but their story has undeniably stirred public conscience worldwide.
