A DANISH artist has thrown the spotlight on what really constitutes art after producing two empty frames and keeping his five-figure payment, saying the apparent breach of contract ‘is’ the art.

 

It’s a deep question?

In a broader context perhaps, but if the frames are empty, isn’t he just having a laugh?

 

What actually happened?

Jens Haaning, a 56-year-old conceptual artist from Copehnagen, was asked by the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art in northern Denmark to reproduce two of his works to represent the annual salary in Denmark and Austria.

 

What were the older works?

One was produced in 2007 called “An Average Danish Annual Income”, which featured krone banknotes in a frame, and the other was a 2011 work, “An Average Austrian Annual Income” with Euros in a frame. Both were made with money borrowed from a bank.

 

On this occasion?

Haaning was given around 534,000 kroner ($83,000) in a loan from what the museum’s director, Lasse Andersson, says its the establishment’s “limited resources”. The idea was that he would send the museum two picture frames containing the money which was physically used to construct the reproductions, with the overall aim of the works to highlight the relationship between art and working life.

 

However?

The pieces were due to feature in a new exhibit about working life in Denmark, titled “Work It Out”, but Haaning produced blank canvases. Mr Andersson revealed: “Haaning sent us an email saying he thought it was more interesting to do a new work, and it was called ‘Take the Money and Run.’

 

Now?

The museum remain hopeful the money will be returned as it was to go toward the building’s upkeep. Mr Andersson said he does not yet intend to go the police as the contract with Haaning stipulated he had until January of 2022 to return the cash. “Jens is known for his conceptual and activistic art with a humouristic touch and he gave us that - but also a bit of a wake-up call as everyone now wonders where did the money go?” Mr Andersson said. “He hasn’t broken any contract yet.” He added: “We are not a rich museum. We are really hoping the money will come back.”

 

The artist sees things differently?

Haaning said the cash will not be returned: “Of course I will not pay it back. The work is that I took the money and I will not give it back.” He told CNN: “I saw, from my artistic point of view, that I could create a much better piece for them than what they could imagine. I don't see that I have stolen money... I have created an art piece, which is maybe 10 or 100 times better than what we had planned. What is the problem?"

 

What about the exhibit?

The museum has displayed the empty frames in the spot they had set aside for Haaning’s work, alongside his email explaining it is a “conceptual” piece.