Fact or Fiction: Does it Matter?

UPDATED ON WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 29 at 5:17 P.M.

According to a Miami New Times article, the Miami-based blog ArtLurker published an interview today with an out-of-state artist who created a "rape tunnel." And what is a rape tunnel? It's more or less exactly what it sounds like: a tunnel you crawl through and get raped when you reach the end of it.

Shocking? Yes. Appalling? Yes. Is it likely to get the artist arrested? Yes.

But it's just too bad it isn't actually true, according to the Miami New Times. After a bit of investigating, the reporter of the story found out that the rape tunnel never existed and, in fact, is a wind tunnel by a company named Gevers Aicraft, Inc.

But the plot thickens! As of Monday, 10:09 p.m., a visit to ArtLurker's blog shows that their host account has been suspended! Thus far, no explanations have been given by either ArtLurker or the Miami New Times.

So, does life imitate art or does art imitate life? More importantly, does it matter either way? ArtLurker or ArtJerker? I personally don't care whether or not ArtLurker intended to 'pull a fast one' on its readers or if this was some type of factual error. Or, it could be that the blog decided to stir up controversy and/or stimulate conversation to facilitate an examination on the topics/issues that make us feel uncomfortable. Few people ask enough questions.

And though, as the Miami New Times pointed out in their article, art stunts/fakes on this scale have been done before and better, I believe this might be a first for Miami. Beyond that, let's face it: there's nothing new under the sun. So please grant me this brief moment where both my imagination and curiosity run wild.

UPDATE: ArtLurker's blog is back online!
UPDATE #2: ArtLurker admits that the 'rape tunnel' was an "entirely fake art project" intended to "spark conversation on the state of art for a few hours". Read what else the blog had to say here.