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Pigcasso

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Pigcasso
SpeciesPig
SexFemale
BornApril 2016 (2016-04)
Cape Winelands District Municipality, South Africa
DiedMarch 2024(2024-03-00) (aged 7)
Franschhoek, South Africa
OccupationAnimal artist (painter)
Years active2016–2024
OwnerJoanne Lefson
Weight700 kg (1,500 lb)
Named afterPablo Picasso

Pigcasso (April 2016 – March 2024) was a 700-kilogram (1,500 lb) pig from South Africa whose paintings have sold for millions of rand all over the world. Pigcasso is best known for being the first non-human artist to be given her own art exhibition, and for holding the record for most expensive artwork by an animal ever sold. She is also famous for the watchmaker Swatch using one of her paintings in its 2019 limited-edition Flying Pig timepiece.[1] More broadly, she was known for inspiring conversations around veganism, vegetarianism, and factory farming.

Life

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Early life

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Pigcasso was a female pig (Sus domesticus) born in April 2016[2][3][a] on an industrialised pig farm in the Winelands region of the Western Cape, South Africa. Along with her sister Rosie,[3] she was rescued from a slaughterhouse, in May, by Joanne Lefson and taken to Farm Sanctuary SA in Franschhoek, the nonprofit animal sanctuary that Lefson founded that year.[4] Lefson is a former professional golfer who briefly dated John Denver[5][6] and travelled the world with Oscar, a dog she adopted and married,[dubious – discuss] but later accidentally ran over, which it did not survive.[7]

Art career

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When Lefson noticed that the pig ate and destroyed everything in her stall besides some paint brushes, she employed clicker training and positive reinforcement techniques to teach the pig to hold the brush in her mouth and apply paint to paper mounted on an easel placed before her.[7][8] By dipping the brush in different colors, the pig began to create colorful abstract paintings in October 2016, which Lefson then sold to raise funds for the sanctuary.[9] Each of Pigcasso's works was signed by dipping her nose-tip into beetroot ink and touching it onto the canvas.[10]

Penguin (2019)

Pigcasso and Lefson were the first non-human/human collaboration to have held an art exhibition together, OINK, which took place at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town in 2018.[11][12] Subsequently, Pigcasso's works were displayed in art exhibitions in the Netherlands (2021); Germany (2022);[13] the UK (2023);[14] and China (2023/24).[15][16] Pigcasso's artworks have been described as Abstract expressionism[17][18] and have sold for millions of rand[19] to collectors around the world. Three of her most famous pieces are Penguin, Snowman, and Mouse, each of which sold for $5,000 in 2021. A painting of Prince Harry that was sold to a Spanish buyer for £2,350 in 2021 also received global notoriety, because of its subject.[20] Works by Pigcasso have been held by Jane Goodall, Rafael Nadal,[21] Ed Westwick,[22] and George Clooney.[23] On 13 December 2021, a work by Pigcasso sold for £20,000,[24][25][26] a record price for an artwork created by an animal.[27][26][28] The 1.6 m × 2.6 m (5.2 ft × 8.5 ft) canvas, titled Wild and Free, was purchased by German art collector Peter Esser, eclipsing the £14,000 American collector Howard Hong paid for a painting by Congo the chimpanzee.[29][30] By the time of her death, Lefson had sold over $1 million worth of Pigcasso's paintings, with proceeds going towards the upkeep of the sanctuary where she lived.[2][31]

The relationship between Pigcasso and Lefson has been noted for igniting debate around the definition of art and animal creativity, while also drawing attention to the living conditions of farm animals around the world.[7][32][33] Lefson stated that her aim is to educate the public about the devastating effects of animal husbandry on the welfare of animals and the environment in order to inspire a kinder, more sustainable world.[3]

Media

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Barbie FKA Boris (2021)

The watchmaker Swatch commissioned an artwork of Pigcasso's for a 2019 watch called Flying Pig.[34][35][36][17] She was also featured in the 60th anniversary advertisement of the Nissan Skyline (2017),[37][38] and in 2020, a "Pigcasso" range of wine, produced from the grapes that grow at the farm sanctuary where she lived, was launched.[39][40][41]

Over the course of her life, Pigcasso was featured on various global media channels. Her exploits were covered on Saturday Night Live,[42] ABC,[43] NBC,[44] CBS,[17] CNN,[45] National Geographic,[8] Sky News,[28] and the BBC.[46] Pigcasso also appeared live on The Jeremy Vine Show in 2020 and in publications such as The Times newspaper[47] and Der Spiegel.[48] In August 2023, a book about Pigcasso’s life was released in London, titled Pigcasso. The Pig That Saved a Sanctuary, which includes a foreword by Jane Goodall.[23]

Illness and death

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Pigcasso had chronic rheumatoid arthritis, which calcified her spine. Her condition deteriorated rapidly in September 2023 and by October her hind legs were nearly non-functional. On 6 March 2024, Lefson announced that Pigcasso had died.[21][2] Among Pigcasso's many admirers, Dr Jane Goodall was present to pay her respects the day after she died.[49][50] Goodall flew out to the sanctuary after hearing about the pig's condition, but arrived one day too late, with Pigcasso passing away before the two had a chance to formally meet. The next day, Goodall shared a tribute for the pig at a gala hosted by the sanctuary, raising R300,000 (or USD16,062) for her non-profit organisation.[2]

Notes

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  1. ^ Some sources suggest Pigcasso was born in March 2016.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Hast, Justin (20 February 2019). "A Pig Designed This Swatch Watch". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Gomez, Julia (9 March 2024). "World-renowned painting pig Pigcasso dies: What to know about the swine's incredible life". USA Today.
  3. ^ a b c d Brand, Alexander (21 June 2021). "Going whole hog for animal activism: Joanne Lefson". MatieMedia. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021. In May 2016, Jo rescued a pair of two-month-old piglets, Pigcasso and her sister Rosie, from a South African slaughterhouse.
  4. ^ "Step aside Pablo: Meet Pigcasso, South Africa's painting pig". ECR. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  5. ^ Lefson, Joanne (8 December 2010). "Ahound the World: My Travels with Oscar". Penguin Random House South Africa. ISBN 978-1-77022-108-6. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  6. ^ Lefson, Joanne (3 August 2023). "Pigcasso: The painting pig that saved a sanctuary". Octopus. ISBN 978-1-78840-419-8. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Tan, Shen Wu (2 December 2016). "Pigcasso brings some truths home". IOL. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  8. ^ a b Langley, Liz (3 February 2018). "Watch Pigcasso, the Famous Painting Pig, at Work". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Pigcasso: The pig creating art that sells for thousands". ITV. 29 March 2017. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Meet Pigcasso, the painting pig". The Big Issue South Africa. 18 September 2018. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  11. ^ Maliti, Soyiso (20 January 2018). "WATCH: Pigcasso launches art exhibition – and it's anything but hogwash!". IOL. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Meet Pigcasso, The World's First Pig Artist". DOGOnews. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  13. ^ dpa (1 July 2022). "Kunst: Bilder von malendem Schwein "Pigcasso" in Hann. Münden". Die Zeit (in German). ISSN 0044-2070. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Waterloo exhibition showcases street art and pig paintings". 4 December 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  15. ^ WaqarOptimist (8 February 2024). "Pigcasso's Palette: A Swirl of Colors in South African Art at Beijing Times Art Museum". www.thebeijinger.com. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  16. ^ Brederode, William. "LOOK | SA's painting pig is exhibiting in China - the world's largest pork producer". News24. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  17. ^ a b c "Meet Pigcasso — the pig who was saved from a slaughterhouse and became a world famous painter". CBS News. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  18. ^ Govender, Suthentira (22 January 2018). "Painting piggy prodigy Pigcasso set to take on the world". TimesLIVE.
  19. ^ Peter, Zamayirha. "Pigcasso a millionaire". Citypress. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  20. ^ Govender, Suthentira (28 March 2021). "Princely sum: Pig's portrait of Harry fetches R50,000". TimesLIVE. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Murió Pigcasso, la cerda pintora: por qué le decían "la artista no humana más exitosa de la historia"" [Pigcasso, the painting pig, died: why they called her "the most successful non-human artist in history"]. Clarín (in Spanish). 6 March 2024. Archived from the original on 6 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  22. ^ Govender, Suthentira (24 January 2021). "Hollywood star is star-struck by a painting porker, Pigcasso". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  23. ^ a b Brown, Lauren (5 June 2023). "Cassell acquires 'heartwarming' book on painting pig Pigcasso". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  24. ^ Artmajeur. "Pigcasso, the painter pig has just sold a work for 20,000 pounds sterling! | Artmajeur Magazine". www.artmajeur.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  25. ^ "Pigcasso brings home the bacon after selling an abstract artwork for a record R400 000". www.iol.co.za. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  26. ^ a b "Move over, Banksy: SA's Pigcasso sells painting for more than R400k". The South African. 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  27. ^ Lindner, Roland; York, New (6 March 2024). "Malendes Schwein Pigcasso gestorben". FAZ.NET (in German). ISSN 0174-4909. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  28. ^ a b "South Africa: 'Pigcasso' sells painting for £20,000". Sky News. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  29. ^ Jones, Sam (21 June 2005). "Chimp's art fetches £14,000". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  30. ^ "No Chump Change for Chimp Art". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  31. ^ Lindner, Roland; York, New (6 March 2024). "Malendes Schwein Pigcasso gestorben". FAZ.NET (in German). ISSN 0174-4909. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  32. ^ "Pigcasso: timeless work by a pampered porker". TimesLIVE. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  33. ^ "Farm Sanctuary SA: A Safe Haven For Rescued Farm Animals". The Inside Guide | Cape Town. 2 March 2018. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  34. ^ "Swatch X Pigcasso – Swatch South Africa". 2020.swatch.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  35. ^ "A Pig Designed This Swatch Watch". Bloomberg.com. 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  36. ^ "WATCH: SA's Pigcasso becomes first African, and animal, to design a Swatch watch". www.iol.co.za. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  37. ^ Rus, Tudor (10 August 2017). "Pigcasso paints race track, Nissan Skyline driver can't handle it". Drive Mag. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  38. ^ Long, Danielle (10 August 2017). "Nissan enlists Pigcasso the painting pig for Skyline campaign". The Drum. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  39. ^ "Pigcasso | Wine". pigcasso.org. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  40. ^ "Pigcasso has designed her own wine". www.capetownetc.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  41. ^ "Three grunts for Pigcasso's new plonk". TimesLIVE. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  42. ^ "SNL Jokes About Hypocrisy of Loving Animals and Eating Them". VegNews.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  43. ^ "Video: Did a pig or a person paint these?". ABC News. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  44. ^ "Pig Escapes Slaughterhouse Fate, Sells Original Paintings". NBC New York. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  45. ^ ""Pigcasso", el cerdo artista que vende cuadros por miles de dólares | Video". CNN (in Spanish). 23 March 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  46. ^ "Happy News: Stories to make you smile! – CBBC Newsround". Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  47. ^ Laing, Aislinn. "Pigcasso ... or a new Francis Bacon?". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  48. ^ "Pigcasso: Schwein macht Kunst – saugut". Der Spiegel (in German). 3 July 2022. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  49. ^ "Malende Sau Pigcasso ist tot: Schweinedame starb im Alter von 8 Jahren". Der Spiegel (in German). 8 March 2024. ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  50. ^ Kruger, Theo Jeptha en Jackie. "KYK | Jane Goodall besoek toevlugsoord in Franschhoek". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 8 March 2024.
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