Skip to content

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Real life Romanian beggars used as props in controversial art exhibit

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
Swedish art museum features beggars in new exhibit to express the injustice in society.

Two Romanian beggars sat quietly face-to-face in an exhibit where they were used as the main piece of attraction. In the popular Sweden museum of Malmo Konsthall, the two were told to "act" as if they were still begging.

Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

Highlights

By Hannah Raissa Marfil (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
3/6/2015 (9 years ago)

Published in Europe

Keywords: Ann-Margret Oftedal, Anders Carlsson, Carlsson

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - "The poverty came so close. It bothered me," said Ann-Margret Oftedal, a visitor disturbed by the exhibit.

Keep a rosary always within your reach. Find the perfect rosaries for home, work and parish.

The two beggars were identified as Luca Lacatus, a 28-year-old migrant from northern Romania and his 26-year-old girlfriend Marcella Cheresi. They explained they were approached while fixing their house that was destroyed by a harsh blizzard two years ago. They also said that they preferred the job over begging on the streets, because people inside tend to be nicer to them.

According to the artistic director Anders Carlsson, the exhibit was actually geared towards making the Swedish people look into the way they perceive the act of street begging. However, it turned out as offensive and uncomfortable for some visitors who came to see the exhibit.

Carlsson said he just "wanted to provide people with an artificial space where they can question their own attitudes and why they continue to pervasively tolerate injustice in the society." These, according to Carlsson, are the very things that violate their own human morals.

This holy season, remember the patron saint who watches over thee! Honor your patron saint with faith.

Critics, however, interpreted the art differently. What they saw was an imposing exploitation towards the middle class who have very little power to change the system.

According to them, this form of art contributes very little to the current Swedish debate on the best way to help the poor Romanian migrants.

Aaron Israelson, an editor of a magazine sold by the homeless, felt like he was actually part of the exhibit. He said that it is not just about the miserable begging situation that was visualized but also the reaction of the visitors who came to see the exhibit.

---


'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'


Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Lent logo
Saint of the Day logo

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.