2022 US Trip – Day 30 (Tom Otterness Sculpture in Newark)

I understand that this sculpture in Newark is by Tom Otterness. I’m not going to write anything further on that as the artist is hugely controversial for in the 1970s adopting a dog from a shelter, chaining it up and then shooting it dead to make a video which he thought would shock audiences. When questioned in 2007, he said:

“Thirty years ago when I was 25 years old, I made a film in which I shot a dog. It was an indefensible act that I am deeply sorry for. Many of us have experienced profound emotional turmoil and despair. Few have made the mistake I made. I hope people can find it in their hearts to forgive me”.

Whether hypocritical or not, I thought I’d rather limit my comments to the man rather than his art. Other than to add that if I was in Newark again, I’d walk down a different street to avoid this artwork so that I didn’t have to think of the artist.