Piggy Paintings

Wim Delvoye, a Belgian artist went to China, bought a pig farm at Chenjiatuo village, hired some local farmers and raise some 20 sows.

Is he contemplating selling pork or other related porky products for the market?

Well, in a sort of way. He tattoos his pigs, using the animals as canvases for skin art at his Art Farm. He prefers big, fat pigs - these providing larger canvases, I presume. I wonder why only sows and not boars? Maybe the male variety don't fancy being prettied up?

To avoid mucho squealing, the pigs get sedatives before they go under the needle. Delvoye keeps the tattooed pigs far longer than those normal farm pigs that are reared for slaughter. OK, perhaps I am speculating here, but I reckon at least until he gets another inspiration, which would then require a new sow, therefore out with the least exciting canvas.

Collectors can either buy the pigs live and pay for their keep as "foster parents" (with art, I prefer the word 'patron' - sounds more classy - maybe I'll advise Delvoye) or purchase their tattoo-festooned skins for display after you-know-what-happened.

Delvoye said, "Tattoos remind you of death. It's leaving something permanent on something non-permanent. Even when tattooing flowers, there is a morbid side to the activity."

Thus, mortality is a primary theme in his porky "paintings." I bet those piggies would certainly agree. I do wonder whether Delvoye preaches vegetarianism and abstaining from killing, or does he do his tattooing after a heraty breakfast of eggs and ... eh ... bacon?