Art major Aliza Shvarts ‘08 wants to make a statement.
Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself “as often as possible” while periodically taking abortifacient drugs to induce miscarriages. Her exhibition will feature video recordings of these forced miscarriages as well as preserved collections of the blood from the process.
The goal in creating the art exhibition, Shvarts said, was to spark conversation and debate on the relationship between art and the human body. But her project has already provoked more than just debate, inciting, for instance, outcry at a forum for fellow senior art majors held last week. And when told about Shvarts’ project, students on both ends of the abortion debate have expressed shock — saying the project does everything from violate moral code to trivialize abortion.
But Shvarts insists her concept was not designed for “shock value.”
“I hope it inspires some sort of discourse,” Shvarts said
If by “discourse” you mean, “You’re evil, and a moron,” then yeah… mission accomplished.
UPDATE: The New York Sun is reporting that Ms. Shvarts now claims the whole thing is a work of “performance art.” I’m not sure I buy this recantation - it would be just like a wannabe-edgy art poseur to do something this rash, then claim “fiction” when the heat got turned up and she had a chance to reconsider. Besides, even if it’s just fiction, Ms. Schvarts’ status simple goes from “Evil, and a moron,” to “A moron, and possibly still evil.”
UPDATE: Yale are confirming that it’s not true:
Statement by Helaine S. Klasky — Yale University, Spokesperson
New Haven, Conn. — April 17, 2008
Ms. Shvarts is engaged in performance art. Her art project includes visual representations, a press release and other narrative materials. She stated to three senior Yale University officials today, including two deans, that she did not impregnate herself and that she did not induce any miscarriages. The entire project is an art piece, a creative fiction designed to draw attention to the ambiguity surrounding form and function of a woman’s body.
She is an artist and has the right to express herself through performance art.
Had these acts been real, they would have violated basic ethical standards and raised serious mental and physical health concerns.
you reckon?
92 Comments •
I realize there is no necessary connection between the seminary and this sad, sad lady - but I would love to know if Yale Divinity School and Yale-Berkeley have made any public statements about this senior’s “art project.” I don’t see how any theological academy could NOT have an opinion about something so repugnant to Christian ethics ...