SerialSkiller Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 This is a bit of a read, but i cant even fuckin believe shit like this exists... Richard Whitehurst is a Columbus-based artist who made his mark on the Ohio scene by showing at the William Strunk Jr. Museum of Contemporary Art in Akron and internationally regarded galleries such as Alexandria Asheton Gallery and Seward Projects Space. He was the 2006 recipient of an Akron Culture Committee fellowship and has quickly become a seminal figure in the often overshadowed Rustbelt regional art scene, rapidly moving from sculpture and installation to more challenging situational based work that would make Nicolas Bourriaud’s head spin. In fact, his new controversial work, THE RAPE TUNNEL, which is set to go on view at Columbus’ 4D Gallery on October 30th, has come under fire from Columbus-based feminist groups not to mention, local law enforcement officials. The artist plans to place himself in a room, the only entrance or exit being a 22 ft long plywood tunnel constructed by Whitehurst himself. Then he says that for the duration of the gallery’s opening (from 7:00 p.m. to midnight) he will rape anyone who travels through the tunnel into that room. On a recent trip to Ohio, nearly all art-related conversation stirred wildly around Whitehurst and his tunnel, with half the people hailing him a vastly important figure to keep an eye out for, while others regarding his work as cheap and exploitative – not to mention very dangerous. We’ll let you readers decide. The following interview was conducted on September 22nd via e-mail correspondence. Please describe the project. In the 4D Gallery main room, I’ve constructed a 22 ft tunnel out of plywood that leads into the project room. There is no way in or out of the project room except for this tunnel. As you travel through the tunnel, it gets smaller and smaller, making it so that you have to crawl and put yourself in a submissive position in order to reach the tunnel’s destination. At the end of the tunnel the subject will find me waiting in the project room and I’ll try to the best of my ability to overpower and rape the person who crawls through. Why rape? Because as an artistic gesture, it’s one of the most impactful I can think of. For the past ten years Ohio’s art scene has been largely centered around a string of alternative spaces in Akron’s warehouse district, where people had been putting on art shows. At the beginning I happily participated along with everyone else but then I started to feel like it wasn’t going anywhere. It dawned on me that if the work we created had never existed the world would be no different than if it had. None of it mattered to anyone outside of our small and insignificant circle of peers. I wanted something that would have more impact. I started to think differently about my work. In 2007 at the Seward Projects Space in Columbus, I had my first breakthrough with an installation that was to be the prototype for this current one. It was called THE PUNCH-YOU-IN-THE-FACE TUNNEL. It was the same set-up as THE RAPE TUNNEL except at the end of the tunnel I’d punch the subject in the face instead of raping him or her. The impetus was completely reactionary to the current state of art, and motivated by pure frustration. As it turns out, I ended up breaking the nose of the third person to crawl through the tunnel, an aspiring model. She went to the hospital and eventually sued me. Her modeling career was put on hold. The civil case was long and drawn out and the matter still hasn’t been resolved. To this day she still has unpaid medical bills. The point of this long aside is that all this took place two years ago, and I’m still having an impact on this young lady’s life, something not many other artists could claim about their work. Rape seemed like the next logical step. Richard Whitehurst. But rape is way more extreme than a punch to the face. Is your intention to ruin people’s lives? Possibly. I’m not necessarily concerned with the positive or negative effects of this project so long as there is some effect on people’s lives. I’ve merely set up a situation where there is potential to impact people in meaningful ways. Maybe I won’t be able to rape everyone who crawls through the tunnel, but the door is open for all kinds of scenarios; rape, serious injury, maybe even death. I might even get arrested. Right now the installation isn’t even complete, and I’ve riled up a substantial portion of the local population. The installation as an idea is powerful enough itself. By “substantial portion of the local population” are you referring to people that have been protesting this event? Yes. How do you feel about the protesters? I’m fine with them. They have the right to speak out against this installation. The project would be an utter failure if it didn’t create this kind of open dialogue. Are you pro-rape? Not really. I personally think rape is morally reprehensible and something that should generally not be allowed in our society. Most people feel this way, which is why the act is exploitable for the purposes of my work. If people were not so repulsed by rape then this project would fail. Does this mean you’re willing to go to jail for the sake of your work? I am. The local authorities are already threatening to have this exhibition shut down. Caroline Miffen [4D Gallery director] to her credit has hired a team of lawyers working hard to ensure that THE RAPE TUNNEL will proceed as planned. At the end of the day there’s a disclaimer on the door so people know what they’re getting into. It would seem that what you are proposing to do will not technically constitute rape for the obvious reason that whoever enters into the tunnel is acting of their own free will, therefore making the act consensual. If you aren’t really raping anyone, doesn’t that undermine the credibility of the project? First of all, I want to make it clear that I plan to make the experience as unpleasant as I possibly can to anyone who dares to crawl through the tunnel. I will try to the best of my ability to make them regret their decision. Secondly, rape is not always a black and white issue. The definition is argued almost everyday in courtrooms around the country. The woman who gets too drunk one night and regrets having sex the next morning, was she raped or not? There is no easy answer. I hope some of that ambiguity will manifest itself in this project. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TONY MAYO Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I wouldn't dare venture through that tunnel without my trusty.. RAPE CONDOM! and a /NH is in order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Orenthal Norton Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 some feminist is going to go in their with pepperspray and a tazor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerialSkiller Posted October 9, 2009 Author Share Posted October 9, 2009 yeh, wouldnt there be guys going just to bash this dude? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChupacabra Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 THE PUNCH-YOU-IN-THE-FACE TUNNEL. It was the same set-up as THE RAPE TUNNEL except at the end of the tunnel I’d punch the subject in the face instead of raping him or her. As it turns out, I ended up breaking the nose of the third person to crawl through the tunnel, an aspiring model. She went to the hospital and eventually sued me. I want to make it clear that I plan to make the experience as unpleasant as I possibly can to anyone who dares to crawl through the tunnel. I will try to the best of my ability to make them regret their decision. Hahahahaha, this dude rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEVEL 75 PALADIN Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Rape seemed like the next logical step. Isn't it always... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delonemonkey Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 IF YOU COME INTO THIS TUNNEL, I AM GOING TO RAPE YOU. this guy is awesome. Even more awesome for breaking that models nose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Orenthal Norton Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 i would love to release a crocidile down the rape tunnel...rape that fucker! or a bunch of jailhouse rapists. to have his whole project turn on him..nh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OL'DIRTYGeEEZER Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I lol'd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
...HSAMSnoytiC Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 the whole point of this exibit is irony you fucking retards. by constructing a "rape" tunnel and advertising the b"rape" tunnel people showing up to the "rape" tunnel to walk through it are well aware of what is about to transcend. therfor, it is not rape. and im quite sure there are waivers to sign before entering. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChupacabra Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Honestly, how can you be mad at this dude? his first project, he told people he was going to punch them in the face as they tried to crawl through the tunnel into the room, then some dumb bitch tried to sue him when she was punched in the face, which is EXACTLY what he told her would happen. Now he's told people he's going to try to "rape" them, if they willingly crawl through a tunnel and into a room with him and people are all getting up in arms. He's getting the media's attention, and some ugly bitches will probably get to have sex. Win/Win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crocodile Tears Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 i would love to release a crocidile down the rape tunnel...rape that fucker! or a bunch of jailhouse rapists. to have his whole project turn on him..nh :D.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Nerves Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Orenthal Norton Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 no one can hear your screams in the rape tunnel.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChupacabra Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Chunk of the article you missed: "Do you have any limitations on the kind of person you’ll rape? None whatsoever. It could be men, women, old, young, fat, thin… anyone. What if a police officer crawls through the tunnel? Then I will probably go to jail. But before that I’ll try my very best to sexually assault him or her. The tunnel is constructed in such a way that it gets smaller the closer you get to the project room. The bigger you are, the more difficult it is to comfortably crawl out. And trust me, I have a lot of secrets up my sleeve to ensure that I can overpower anyone that comes through the tunnel. Where do you go from here then, a “Murder Tunnel”? No. That would be too much like repeating myself. I’ve thought about this long and hard. I’m in danger of painting myself into a corner here and I fear that the sensational aspects of my work might overshadow my ultimate message. If I could somehow cure some disease in the name of art, that would be interesting. The problem with most of today’s art is that it’s being created for a world that doesn’t want or need it. So many other lesser modes of expression have taken the place once held by art in the culture. I’m trying to totally reconfigure art’s importance in the world and make it meaningful. The process will take a long time. I’m not really sure what the next step will be. I’d rather concentrate on the current project" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thismachinekills Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 i'm just pissed i didn't come up with this first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
injury Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 And trust me, I have a lot of secrets up my sleeve to ensure that I can overpower anyone that comes through the tunnel.[/size][/font] :what: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thismachinekills Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 the artist, btw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gat Bush Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Send this man in there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushawn wuan Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 so is this guy an art school hipster fag? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerialSkiller Posted October 9, 2009 Author Share Posted October 9, 2009 hahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushawn wuan Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 oh and send Kimbo Slice in that g-thang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChupacabra Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerialSkiller Posted October 9, 2009 Author Share Posted October 9, 2009 i dont care that this guy is doing it. sweet as. if someone wants to willingly walk down a rape tunnel that there choice. and hes gettin his name out ther by causing this controversy. what i fuckin hate is that this is being referred to as art. can someone explain to me how this is at all considered art? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swineflu. Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 that tunnel dosn't look to sturdy i'd be surprised if some one can even make it down the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChupacabra Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Performance art? since he's going to perform the act of rape on people? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRUNKEN-ASSHOLE-ONER Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 yeh, wouldnt there be guys going just to bash this dude? ^I'll bet the cops do just that just to have an excuse to blast dude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonsai Bill Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 why do i think this idea is awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blood fart Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I thought this was going to be awesome.....and then it turned out to be super awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+plus+ Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.