The Rape Tunnel

On September 28th, modern art blog site ArtLurker.com published a story about an artist from Ohio whose exhibition centered around a wooden tunnel leading to a room where guests could get sexually assaulted by the artist himself. The article focused on an interview of the artist as he calmly explained the background of his exhibition, and its heated reception by the local authorities and feminist organizations.

Considering the volatile subject matter of the article it is no wonder that it got picked up quickly. Among the first to report it was Gawker. A month later, the concept still continues to spark heated discussions.

Unfortunately, all you art lovers hurrying to book a flight to Ohio should know the story was fake. Amazingly enough this little hoax has turned into something of an Internet meme. ArtLurker claims the article was intended as a bit of satire, sort of an art piece itself.

I’m not sure fooling people into thinking someone is building a “rape tunnel” is any more artistic than someone actually doing it. Too high-brow for me, perhaps?

Tagged as: Art, Creativity, Culture, Hoax, Media, Society, Weirdness