The Art Newspaper

Kanye West has seen it all

Web only
Published online 3 Aug 09

Visitors at the small, experimental space PS122, which hosted a tribute show of video, dance and musical performances dedicated to rap artist Kanye West, were probably shocked when the hip hop star showed up at the event himself. But they were likely not as shocked as Kanye, as the night progressed, when performance artist Ann Liv Young came on stage, completely naked, and berated the rapper for his most recent album "808s & Heartbreak". And to add to the bizarre diatribe, while she was complaining that the CD was not his best work, Young rubbed barbecued pork onto her genitals, before eating it. Kanye must be used to such controversial criticism though, or at least daring performance art—the man did work with Vanessa Beecroft on a performance featuring naked models in afro wigs for his last album launch—as fellow viewers including music channel MTV report he didn't bat an eye.

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