Animal rights activists protest Jannis Kounellis's live horse installation at Gavin Brown's New York gallery
On June 26, animal rights protestors entered Gavin Brown's New York gallery space during the penultimate day of an exhibition to demonstrate against Jannis Kounellis's Untitled (12 Horses). The installation, originally staged in 1969 at Galleria L'Attico in Rome, featured twelve live horses tethered to gallery walls. Activists carried signs reading 'It's not art, it's animal abuse' and 'Modern Slavery', objecting to the horses' confinement during opening hours without exercise or sleep. Though grooms attended the animals continuously, the protest highlighted ethical concerns. This exhibition marked Gavin Brown's final show at the current venue before relocating to Harlem in July. Works by Sturtevant and Rikrit Tiravanija were also included in the show.
Key facts
- Animal rights protestors demonstrated on June 26
- Protest occurred at Gavin Brown's New York gallery
- Target was Jannis Kounellis's Untitled (12 Horses) installation
- Installation features 12 live horses chained to walls
- Original staging was in 1969 at Galleria L'Attico in Rome
- Protest signs read 'It's not art, it's animal abuse' and 'Modern Slavery'
- Horses were attended by grooms at all times
- Exhibition was Gavin Brown's final show before relocating to Harlem in July
Entities
Artists
- Jannis Kounellis
- Sturtevant
- Rikrit Tiravanija
- Gavin Brown
Institutions
- Galleria L'Attico
- Gavin Brown's gallery
- artnet
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Rome
- Italy
- Harlem