• Hanrahan@slrpnk.net
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    2 days ago

    sure but it turned into a huge tourist attraction. and the raised lots of money charging people to see it for charity. No one wanted to see the original, what is art ?

    https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/monkey-business-pensioner-behind-botched-christ-fresco-raises-ps43-000-for-charity-as-her-artwork-becomes-major-tourist-attraction-8760652.html

    Spanish pensioner Cecilia Gimenez’s well-intentioned, but botched attempts to restore a 19th-century fresco of Jesus at her local church has proven surprisingly lucrative.

    The “Ecce Homo” (Behold the Man) was re-christened “Ecce Mono” (Behold the Monkey) after the pensioner artist’s efforts rendered the image virtually unrecognisable, and drew ridicule from across the world.

    But it has become a major tourist attraction raising much-needed funds for the local community.

    Since news of the botched fresco made headlines a year ago the church has drawn more than 40,000 visitors and raised £43,000 (€50,000) for a local charity.

    Mrs Gimenez, 81, and the local council are to share profits from merchandise featuring the image – and the pensioner is also due to have other artworks exhibited

    • Brave Little Hitachi Wand@feddit.uk
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      2 days ago

      What is art? If you’re like me, you might describe art as the study of choice. I like that descriptor because the choice to make as much money as possible with a minimum of talent and judgment, no matter how successful, will never have earned my respect. Each of us does that every day. I do not begrudge it, but creating tourism revenue adds nothing to the conversation of any artistic fields.