His work ‘Take the Money and Run’ was not liked… They wanted to recover the 75 thousand dollars he received for the blank canvas

It was decided to hand over the money that Danish artist Jens Haaning received for the blank canvas he gave to the museum of modern art in 2021.

532,000 crowns (about $75,000 at the current exchange rate) for the works carried out in 2021.2 million Turkish lira) was paid, but the artist gave two blank canvases titled “Take the Money and Run.” However, a Copenhagen court sentenced the artist to return this amount to the museum that commissioned the works.

“I was surprised, but at the same time it was exactly as I imagined,” Haaning told Danish broadcaster DR yesterday. Haaning claimed that he did not have enough money to pay back the museum, saying, “It was good for my studies, but it also put me in a situation where I didn’t know what to do.”

I RECEIVED THE ORDER AND SENT A BLANK CANVAS

In 2021, the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art in Aalborg, Denmark, was commissioned to remake two famous works of art called “Annual Income of the Average Dane” and “Annual Income of the Average Austrian,” which aim to represent the average annual income. of a person and consist of bills glued on a canvas. 75 thousand dollars were paid.

Instead, the artist gave two blank canvases to the museum. The museum subsequently asked the artist to refund the amount paid. Haaning rejected this request and the Kunsten Museum took the artist to court.

Speaking to the Danish press in 2021, the artist said that “Take the Money and Run” arose from the idea that he was not paid enough. Haaning claimed that he had to spend approximately 3,300 euros out of his own pocket to recreate the works as planned.

“I encourage other people whose working conditions are as bad as mine to do the same,” Haaning said. “If they have a shitty job and they don’t get paid and they’re actually asked to pay to go to work, then do what you can,” she said.

THEY SELL THE BANANA FOR 120 THOUSAND DOLLARS

The art world is no stranger to controversy over works that satirize money. British artist Banksy made headlines in 2018 for painting a self-destructing painting after it sold for $1.4 million at auction. The work was sold again in 2021 for $25 million.

Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan once sold a piece of art made up of fresh bananas taped to a wall for $120,000. When the work was exhibited in Seoul in 2023, a student picked up the banana from the wall and ate it, saying that his action could be considered art in itself.