Jens Haanings grabs over 70,000 euros and delivers empty picture frames

Is this still art or is it theft? Many people in the art world are asking themselves this question - Jens Haaning, however, is not. The Danish artist was hired by the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art in Aalborg to create a work of art that deals with the average annual income in Denmark or Austria. In order to be able to integrate banknotes into the work, the museum transferred 550,000 Danish kroner (equivalent to just under 74,000 euros) to him. Haaning's work was to be shown as part of an exhibition dealing with the relationship to work, labor relations and money. The result, however, made museum director Lasse Andersson wonder: Shortly before the exhibition opened, he received two empty picture frames from Haaning with the meaningful title »Take the Money and Run«. Shortly thereafter, the artist declared on Danish public radio that his work was a protest against the museum's poor remuneration. He was paid only the equivalent of 3,360 euros - an amount that does not even cover his living expenses. This and the theme of the exhibition inspired him to create a work about his own working situation.

The Kunsten Museum has exhibited the empty picture frames nevertheless, museum director Andersson finds the work multi-layered and understands it as a »commentary on how we all work, a commentary on the value of what he creates.« Still, the money does not belong to the artist, which is why Andersson wants it back in the museum's possession after the exhibition ends Jan. 14, 2022. The contract concluded in advance also stipulates that Haaning will return the bills on that day. But Haaning announced on the radio that he wanted to keep the money, because it would not be theft, but merely a breach of contract, and this in turn was part of his work of art.