Warning: This article contains graphic images.
Art Basel, a weeklong art party, is currently taking place in Miami, Florida. And on Friday night, some patrons weren’t real clear on the line between performance art and real life.
A woman—who was identified as a patron, not an artist—was allegedly stabbed by another patron with an X-Acto knife after an argument. The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries to her neck and arms, and was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital. The woman accused of stabbing her has been identified as 24-year-old Siyuan Zhao and is in police custody. According to WSVN, the arrest report states that while being taken into custody, Zhao said, “I had to kill her and two more.”
https://twitter.com/LianeMorejonTV/status/672987931670376448
According to reports, after the stabbing occurred, many patrons enjoying exhibits in the Miami Beach Convention Center weren’t sure whether the woman was part of a piece of performance art, and continued to walk around the bleeding victim and take pictures.
Altercation today at #ArtBasel: “Some patrons thought the stabbing was a performance art presentation.” https://t.co/7STa3HhJ8R
— Michael Stone (@DoctorStone) December 5, 2015
One man who saw the #ArtBasel stabbing victim getting stretchered out said “I thought a piece of art had fallen on her.”
— Nicholas Nehamas (@NickNehamas) December 5, 2015
area where #ArtBasel stabbing happened is open again. Very hush-hush. Oblivious fair-goers sip champagne and critique abstract art
— Nicholas Nehamas (@NickNehamas) December 5, 2015
It’s certainly distressing that a brutal stabbing could be mistaken for art at one of the most high-profile events in the art world. Art Basel has been trolled by a piece of performance art before, however. And this one was much more realistic.
Photo via BenGrantham/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
