Art burned to protest BOB, ArtPrize

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The artist whose ArtPrize entry was thrown in a Dumpster by a venue owner has burned his art in protest.

Artist SinGh's hanging effigy of Saddam Hussein -- part of his ArtPrize entry "Captivity" -- was thrown away Wednesday by Greg Gilmore, the owner of The B.O.B. The sculpture had writings on it about rape, bestiality and suicide.

The entry would have included several sculptures inside a large bird cage that would have changed daily, according to SinGh's website.

SinGh told 24 Hour News 8 on Thursday that he had burned the remaining parts of "Captivity" in protest.

He released the following statement:

"I have failed to negotiate with big establishment like BOB and artprize. It is unfortunate that I did not get any support from the Artprize. G Gilmore took away all my privileges at the BOB to show my art and he have shut me down at his venue, I am left with no option but to walk away from the art prize altogether. I urge the art prize to kick the venue out like the BOB that have double standards about art. If they want to be moral police censoring art they should get out of art business.

"I will not take part in the art prize if the BOB and the artprize did not apologize to me for damages they have caused.

"And to protest on this issue I am going to burn all me art works that was suppost to be show in the show hoping this pave the way to for the future artist and for their freedom to do art.

"I urge all my fellow the artists and my supporters all over the world not to give up hope and fight for freedom of expression of an artist. This time establishment has won but in future I would like to see artists win."

Artist SinGh told 24 Hour News 8 Wednesday that he was angry and sad to see his work thrown away. He said he wished The B.O.B. had contacted him to discuss any problems instead of just trashing the piece.

"Why should an artist [have] to first get permission what he should paint and what he should sculpt?" he questioned.

Gilmore, however, said he was "infuriated" by the piece.

"He took advantage of us," Gilmore told 24 Hour News 8. "And we trusted him after the last several years and the art that he brought, that it would be tasteful, and it was anything but."

The artist said he was trying to show how different cultures are held captive to different ideas. Meanwhile, Gilmore said his venue is not a forum for political statements.

SinGh has had ArtPrize displays at The B.O.B. in two previous years.