I'd like to tell you a story of how one of my journal entries became something a bit more. I saw a story in the news a few weeks ago about Adam Morrigan, a man who specialises in roadkill art. That's the first point of this article, a discussion of his work.

What is more interesting, though, I think, is that Adam Morrigan himself has a dA account - ~Morriarty (not that I knew it when I wrote the journal) and has entered the discussion in my journal ([link]). Isn't that fabulous? That's the second bit, how dA journals can reach out to the people you least expect, and how everyone can learn something new.

Roadkill art

Original news source: [link]

The work in question:


"A controversial artist who makes sculptures from roadkill has put a £1m price tag on one of his latest pieces.

Adam Morrigan has named the artwork, which features two mallard ducklings that have been sewn together, Road Kill (Mappe Mundi).

"He said the high price tag was first and foremost what he believed the piece was worth.

"The price is part of the concept," he said.

"The price tag is giving a value to what people see as valueless and these ducklings are really precious little animals."
...
He rejects the idea that some people would find his work macabre and tasteless.

Tanned hides of a squirrel and roe deer, bearing price tags of £80,000 and £120,000 respectively, will also be part of the exhibition, which is being held in Stroud later this month.

He said that despite offers, none of his latest pieces have sold so far, but he insisted that he was waiting for the right type of buyer. "

I read this and was shocked. But not necessarily in the way that I think the artist intended.

- the moral value of using roadkill? Actually, this doesn't bother me. If its dead, why not use it? Eat it, stuff it, make it art ... And the more I've learnt about this art, the more I'm actually rather admiring of this.

As Adam wrote on his website:

"I entered into making these pieces to highlight the plight of many of the animals under our care and stewardship and believe we have a duty care to protect and sustain the natural spaces still remaining, before we ruin them by exhausting them completely."

Anything with that aim has to be good.

- But. BUT. Putting a price tag of $1 million on a piece. well ... if someone will pay it. But it appears they won't. So why put that price on it? For publicity? Oh yes. Should dead animals be used as publicity? not sure. Should art be valued way above what it's worth to get publicity?

It just seems tasteless. Promotion based on the value put to a work, which the artist knows will revolt and incense the public. Raising the value of a work based on the publicity generated by revulsion.

I'm sure that's very trendy, but is it art, or something else - simply advertising? self-promotion? Enjoyment of revulsion?


dA – reaching out to the world

So, that was that, I thought. I wrote a journal about it and actually agreed with most of the comments people left.

Then someone pointed out some comments from ~Morriarty. Adam Morrigan.

I was amazed. Pleased. Really pleased that somehow the artist himself had found out about my journal and had taken the time to read it and answer it.

I've learnt more about his work from that interaction than from any newspaper article.

I'm sure other people have had the same experience. It just shows, I think, how dA really does interact with the outside world. That things we write here get to places we wouldn't imagine, and with consequences we least expect.

Journals are powerful. Respect them, love them. Use them well.

And thank you ~Morriarty for taking the time to come and talk with us about your work.