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The Museum of Hoaxes is dedicated to promoting knowledge about hoaxes. (Click here for opening hours, etc.) On our blog we post about dubious- sounding claims, and whatever else strikes our fancy. The site is also home to the Hoaxipedia (the museum's online encyclopedia of hoaxes), the Hoax Forum, and the Top 100 April Fools' Day Hoaxes.
The museum was created in 1997 by Alex Boese. He's assisted by a staff of deputy curators and docents. Alex is the author of three books, most recently Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments (which has nothing to do with hoaxes). Check out the list of the Top 20 Most Bizarre Experiments of All Time for a preview.
The Museum of Hoaxes is dedicated to promoting knowledge about hoaxes. (Click here for opening hours, etc.) On our blog we post about dubious- sounding claims, and whatever else strikes our fancy. The site is also home to the Hoaxipedia (the museum's online encyclopedia of hoaxes), the Hoax Forum, and the Top 100 April Fools' Day Hoaxes.
The museum was created in 1997 by Alex Boese. He's assisted by a staff of deputy curators and docents. Alex is the author of three books, most recently Elephants on Acid: And Other Bizarre Experiments (which has nothing to do with hoaxes). Check out the list of the Top 20 Most Bizarre Experiments of All Time for a preview.Prankplace.com
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Monkey Art Fools Expert
Status: Art hoax
Dr. Katja Schneider, director of the State Art Museum in Moritzburg, has been embarrassed by mistaking a painting done by Banghi, a 31-year-old female chimp, for a work by the late Ernst Wilhelm Nay:The director of the State Art Museum of Moritzburg in Saxony-Anhalt, Katja Schneider, suggested the painting was by the Guggenheim Prize-winning artist Ernst Wilhelm Nay. "It looks like an Ernst Wilhelm Nay. He was famous for using such blotches of colour," Dr Schneider confidently asserted. The canvas was actually the work of Banghi, a 31-year-old female chimp at the local zoo. While Banghi likes to paint, she is not able to build up much of a body of work as her mate Satscho generally destroys her paintings before they can get to the gallery. But this one survived long enough to give Dr Schneider a red face. "I did think it looked a bit rushed," she told Bild newspaper.
Of course, this isn't the first time monkey art has fooled an expert. The classic case occurred in 1964 when newsmen from Sweden's Göteborgs-Tidningen obtained some paintings by Peter, a four-year-old chimp at the Boras zoo. They hung the paintings in a gallery, claiming they were the work of avant-garde artist Pierre Brassau. And soon the works were drawing critical acclaim. One critic wrote: "Brassau paints with powerful strokes, but also with clear determination. His brush strokes twist with furious fastidiousness. Pierre is an artist who performs with the delicacy of a ballet dancer."
Unfortunately I haven't been able to find examples posted online of the art of either Banghi or Pierre Brassau.
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
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At the site belonging to the artist who let Peter/Pierre paint, there's a small b&w photo showing the chimp in action, which also gives a very good idea of what his paintings looked like:
http://www.funkegard.se/#konstnaren.html
Posted by UF on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 01:32 AMhttp://www.funkegard.se/#konstnaren.html
I have checked the Bild website and I cannnot find any reference to Moritzburg or Banghi. In Google, the only references are themselves references to the rumor.
Does any one know for sure that this is for real, before I forward it to my friends?
Posted by Enrique in Brussels on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 02:44 AMDoes any one know for sure that this is for real, before I forward it to my friends?
I don't understand what all the hoopla is about concerning contemporary artists, frauds, and the like. After all, for the most part, aren't they all a bunch of liberal, politically correct whackos who believe in evolution in the first place. They should be honored by the fact that somebody has actually made the tie to their roots rather than insulting them... All they did is credit the wrong monkey with the work...
Posted by Christopher in Joplin, Missouri in Joplin, Mo on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 03:35 AM^^^ Please do like King Kong and jump.
Posted by Craig on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 05:08 AMAs an expert in both contemporary and monkey art, I take exception with Christopher's comments. Although quite similar, there are many stylistic differentions between the two- color, expression- but the biggest difference is in the Ape's use of their own feces in each piece.
Posted by booch on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 09:00 AMEnrique, I also checked the Bild website and couldn't find anything. I assumed that was because they didn't have the article online. But a lot of other papers have referred to the article, so it would seem that Bild must have printed something. And the details are pretty specific.
Posted by Alex in San Diego on Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 02:49 PMmy question is: why do art critics exist in the first place? and who the hell is paying for these people?
Posted by Tom on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 01:13 AMHere is a (norwegian) version of the same article, with a reproduction of the art in question: http://pub.tv2.no/nettavisen/skraablikk/article515315
Posted by Bonny on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 04:52 AM"All they did is credit the wrong monkey with the work."
Rofl! Now I gotta wipe the coffee that erupted outta my nose in laughter off the fpd - or maybe not, it could be art...
Posted by SpiderLee on Thu Dec 22, 2005 at 06:48 PMRofl! Now I gotta wipe the coffee that erupted outta my nose in laughter off the fpd - or maybe not, it could be art...
You have to admit, monkeys are freakin' cool.
Posted by Le Homer on Fri Dec 30, 2005 at 07:05 AM
Action painting is about capturing something produced by the subconscious. I don't think that it was ever intended to fool anyone, is it art? Yes, for what it is.Please don't place whacko liberals in the
same category as evolutionists. it's insulting.
besides just because one believes in evolution does not mean that they can't believe in god as well.
but i do agree that most contemporary abstract "art" looks like a primate flung paint at it. and then snobbish critics say how profound it is and it exemplifies the state of modern man..blah blah blah, i went to berkeley...i only wear hemp clothes! i itch constantly, but i'm saving animals and the rainforest and i'm better than you!guns don't kill people irritating hippies do with their incessant nagging!
Posted by cate in my high horse!! hahahhaa!! on Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 12:46 AMsame category as evolutionists. it's insulting.
besides just because one believes in evolution does not mean that they can't believe in god as well.
but i do agree that most contemporary abstract "art" looks like a primate flung paint at it. and then snobbish critics say how profound it is and it exemplifies the state of modern man..blah blah blah, i went to berkeley...i only wear hemp clothes! i itch constantly, but i'm saving animals and the rainforest and i'm better than you!guns don't kill people irritating hippies do with their incessant nagging!
Posted by Mikhail Simkin on Mon Jan 23, 2006 at 06:00 PM
Monkeys paint in sign language. They are probably writing the whole time: You're an Idiot for Liking This. LOL
Posted by Sil on Sun Feb 05, 2006 at 01:57 AMGod created man, and God created monkey. He made us in His image. Man shouldn't lower his standards to that of a primate.
The question: "Is it art?" No, if a monkey can pull it off, it shouldn't be praised by anyone.
Realizing that evolution does exist, the 'e' SHOULD stay lower cased until an intermediate form is found; there needs to be proof.
Posted by scott on Fri May 05, 2006 at 04:52 PMThe question: "Is it art?" No, if a monkey can pull it off, it shouldn't be praised by anyone.
Realizing that evolution does exist, the 'e' SHOULD stay lower cased until an intermediate form is found; there needs to be proof.
I kind of wish this is true,it would be way cool if an art critic was painted into a corner like this 
I like art but these people have a way of expressing themselves that seem to serve no other purpose than to impress god-knows-who.
Posted by nitedrive in sweden on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 11:07 PM I like art but these people have a way of expressing themselves that seem to serve no other purpose than to impress god-knows-who.BBC: Monday, 20 June, 2005
Bidders go ape for chimpanzee art
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4109664.stm
Three abstract paintings by a chimpanzee named Congo have been sold for £12,000 - after being given a price tag of just £800.
Posted by beng in uk on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 09:26 PMBidders go ape for chimpanzee art
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4109664.stm
Three abstract paintings by a chimpanzee named Congo have been sold for £12,000 - after being given a price tag of just £800.
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