An artist in Denmark is courting controversy with his latest art installation, which features three piglets who will be denied food and water until they starve to death. The exhibit, which opened on February 28, 2025, at Copenhagen's "And Now You Care" exhibition, is part of Chilean-born artist Marco Evaristti's effort to raise awareness about the suffering caused by modern pig production.
Evaristti aims to draw attention to the grim realities of pig farming, where approximately 25,000 piglets die daily due to breeding conditions. The centerpiece of his installation consists of a makeshift cage crafted from shopping carts containing the three piglets. Although they appeared healthy at the opening, Evaristti confirmed they would not be provided food or water, projecting their imminent death as part of his artistic statement.
On his Instagram page, Evaristti described the exhibition as “a confrontation with Denmark’s bloody reality” surrounding livestock treatment. He encourages viewers to reconsider their meat consumption habits and to support farming practices focused more on animal welfare. Evaristti's prior works also involved controversial themes, such as using goldfish in blenders and even creating meatballs from his own liposuction fat.
The exhibition has sparked significant backlash. Birgitte Damm, spokesperson for Animal Protection Denmark, expressed both gratitude for Evaristti's attempt to raise awareness but also disagreement with his methods. "We do not agree with how he wants to convey it," she stated. "Three piglets, three individual living beings, should be starved and prevented from drinking until they die from it. It is illegal and it is abuse of the animals."
Damm went on to underline the pressing ethical issues within the Danish pig farming industry, noting how sows are bred to produce around 20 piglets at once, far more than they can feed with only 14 teats available, leading to fierce competition for breastmilk among the piglets. Consequently, many of these piglets perish due to starvation or the dire conditions they endure within the industry.
Damm acknowledged Evaristti's artistic endeavor forces society to confront uncomfortable questions about human connection to animals. "The fact it happens to thousands each day doesn’t make it right," she argued, emphasizing the need for public discourse on the treatment of animals in the agriculture sector.
The provocative nature of this installation is not Evaristti's first foray with controversy as part of his artistic expression. Previously, he has staged projects intended to push the boundaries of acceptable art, challenging perceptions about consumption and ethics. One notable prior project included presenting fish within blenders, playfully inviting viewers to engage with the concept of killing for one’s consumption.
With the latest exhibit, Evaristti has stepped once again onto the fine line between art and activism, igniting debates over freedom of expression and animal rights. It’s evident his intentions, albeit provocative, are aimed at instigational dialogue on important societal issues surrounding the integrity of animal life and the moral responsibilities of consumers and producers alike.
The discussions evoked by this installation are part of the broader trends within art to reflect social issues critically, pushing boundaries and inviting audiences to engage with difficult subjects. Evaristti's controversial methods, as criticized by some activists, simultaneously shed light on the stark realities of livestock production, fostering discussions on how the industry operates within modern food cultures.
Evaristti's project may amplify the already heated discussions about animal welfare and ethical consumption, making the public more aware of the suffering ingrained within systems of mass production. The exhibit not only challenges the viewers’ comfortable perceptions of food and its origins but propels the audience toward confronting ethical dilemmas of consumption practices.
This controversial art installation continues to spark conversations about the relationship between humans and animals, urging reflection on the choices made at the supermarket checkouts and beyond—highlighting the often-ignored consequences of ordinary dietary habits.