What is it with Germans and art, anyway?
Art expert fooled by chimp painting (and if there were ever an ironclad case for the use of scare quotes, 'expert' would certainly apply):
Dr Katja Schneider, director of the State Art Museum in Moritzburg, Saxony-Anhalt, suggested the painting was by Guggenheim Prize winning artist Ernst Wilhelm Nay.
Dr Schneider said: "It looks like an Ernst Wilhelm Nay. He was famous for using such blotches of colour."
But in reality, the painting was made by female chimpanzee Banghi, from Halle Zoo.
I especially like how Schneider backpedaled when she was told, "And now yoo are having been punk-ed, ja?"
After the real artist was revealed by the Bild newspaper, Dr Schneider said: "I did think it looked a bit rushed."
Perhaps I'm being too hard on Frau Schneider. If an art expert can't tell the difference between the product of a Guggenheim-winning artist and that of a chimp, does that tell us more about the expert or the artist?
Posted by Chris at May 1, 2006 10:06 AM