The police moved out and smashed the car window of the artist from the Vestfossen Art Laboratory, because a concerned caller thought there was a dead person in the car. It was Drammens Tidende that first mentioned the case. Every year, the artist creates a wax figure of himself in a new edition. Previously such as Donald Trump, Putin and Charlie Chaplin. The purpose of the figures is to raise various topics in the social debate. And this year’s self-portrait is no exception, where he has transformed himself into Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel. The cast was placed in the front seat of Viskum’s car at Majorstua, ready for a trip to an art fair in Copenhagen the next day. Viskum himself sat in the living room and scrolled on his mobile phone. – Suddenly I hear the car alarm go off, and then I go out on the balcony. And then I see that there are three police cars and seven or eight police officers standing around my car. Morten Viskum as Putin in 2023.Morten Viskum as Donald Trump in 2016.Morten Viskum as Kim Jong-un in 2018. Olive jars filled with baby rats Morten Viskum is a Norwegian artist who became famous in 1995 when he placed olive jars with baby rats in 20 grocery stores in Norway’s five largest cities. Since then, he has been considered one of the country’s controversial contemporary artists, and has made major newspaper headlines. Among other things, when he used a severed hand from a corpse as a paintbrush in the works entitled: “The hand that never stopped painting”. Viskum became famous for this invention: rat babies on olive glass. And this severed hand Viskum used as a paint brush. – I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry And it was precisely Viskum’s art that the police found, when they smashed his car window. They opened the plastic bag Viskum had used to cover the sculpture’s face and could quickly ascertain that the person was neither dead nor alive. Viskum stood on the balcony and filmed the whole thing. – It was so absurd that I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry or believe what I saw. Photo: Private – I am surprised that the police took such drastic action. It should be quite obvious to them that this cannot be a real person. After all, he is sitting with his seat belt on, is well-dressed and has a straight back. So it must have been a very keen bunch of police officers. At the same time, the artist realizes that passers-by found this a bit suspicious and strange. – In the name of justice, it is perhaps possible to understand that the police were a little quick on their feet. Because it is not normal to have a cast of Israel’s prime minister in the passenger seat of the car. Morten Viskum with the sculpture of Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel. Photo: Privat Man both shudder and smile Viskum explained everything to the police, who shortly afterwards left the scene. – I was most despondent, because I knew there would be extra work and trouble. I stood there on the pavement and couldn’t drive the car anywhere. But finally I got through to the insurance company, and they didn’t know whether to laugh or cry either. Viskum and Netanyahu set course for an art fair in Denmark. Photo: Privat Viskum nevertheless got on the road with Netanyahu the next day, and headed for Denmark. – It was good that the sculpture was not destroyed, says a relieved Viskum. Last year he made the cast of himself as Putin, which was exhibited both in Norway and abroad. According to Viskum, the casts arouse many emotions in the audience. – It’s not Putin and it’s not Netanyahu, but there is a person who looks similar. So the reactions are very interesting, because they deal with quite serious topics, but still both shudder and smile. Morten Viskum is ready for many hours in the car with the sculpture. Photo: Privat The sculpture of Israel’s Prime Minister will return to Norway again, so there will be a few hours with Netanyahu in the car for Viskum. But will he dare to stop on the road for a sausage after this incident? – No, now I am much more careful about leaving the car, Viskum concludes with a smile. Published 28.08.2024, at 19.44
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Thought there was a dead person in the car – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
