Marco Evaristti’s recent art exhibition in Copenhagen, which featured three piglets being denied food and water to highlight the cruelty of mass meat production, has taken an unexpected turn. The piglets, named Lucia, Simon, and Benjamin, were stolen by animal rights activists, assisted by Evaristti’s friend Caspar Steffensen. Initially upset by the theft, Evaristti later acknowledged that the piglets would now have a better life.
The exhibition, titled “And Now You Care,” aimed to raise awareness about the harsh realities of modern pig production, a point underscored by statistics from Animal Protection Denmark about the high competition for resources among piglets. While Evaristti’s approach drew international attention, it also attracted criticism from various animal rights groups who opposed the use of animal suffering in art.
Steffensen, motivated by his daughter’s pleas, collaborated with activists to remove the piglets from the gallery. The operation became public when De Glemte Danske, an animal advocacy group, announced the rescue. Evaristti, facing global backlash, is now considering alternative methods to convey his message, such as displaying dead piglets from processing plants or auctioning live ones to ensure they lead happy lives. Despite the controversy, Evaristti maintains that his work is fundamentally about animal rights.