I’ve taken some art history classes in college and of course art in high school but I will never understand art. The Huffington Post has this story about Aliza Schvarts, an art major from Yale, whose senior art project is sure to cause a huge uproar. Aliza Schvarts project involved artificially inseminating herself as often as possible while taking abortifacient drugs to induce miscarriages. Her art project includes both video and preserved blood from the miscarriages.
The goal in creating the art exhibition, Shvarts said, was to spark conversation and debate on the relationship between art and the human body. But her project has already provoked more than just debate, inciting, for instance, outcry at a forum for fellow senior art majors held last week. And when told about Shvarts’ project, students on both ends of the abortion debate have expressed shock — saying the project does everything from violate moral code to trivialize abortion.
But Shvarts insists her concept was not designed for “shock value.”
“I hope it inspires some sort of discourse,” Shvarts said. “Sure, some people will be upset with the message and will not agree with it, but it’s not the intention of the piece to scandalize anyone.”
For senior, abortion a medium for art, political discourse by Martine Powers – Yale Daily News
Like I said, I dont understand art. I am sure that her exhibit will do exactly what Aliza Shvarts wants though, create discourse. I personally have always felt that there is great value in challenging peoples opinions and beliefs in this fashon so I look forward to watching this play out.
While I sympathize with those who feel that this trivilizes the pain of an unwanted miscarriage I applaud Aliza Shvarts for the courage to make such a bold statement. Hopefully we can all learn a little more about ourselves and our society through this.
The exhibit is open to the public from April 22nd to May 1st at the gallery of Holcombe T. Green Jr. Hall. I’m sure by then everyone will know about this story so expect to hear more about this here. If anyone has pictures I would be interested. Thanks in advance and please feel free to leave comments.