'McCarthy's Rents' art installation

George Hutchinson · #1 11-06-2009, 03:04 AM

I've found this set on FLICKR.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/domyboo...7622617038549/

I've contacted the photographer to find out more about it. This will certainly divide opinion and I can't make up my mind which side of the fence I'm standing on.

On one hand, it could be deeply offensive and on the other, its relative accuracy may be something very worthy of inspection and study.

Views, people?

PHILIP

Admin · #2 11-06-2009, 03:08 AM

Was just going to post this on the boards. We received this today:

Hello Casebook,

I'm writing to share images of an installation that was just installed in the Austin branch of our bookstore/gallery.

McCarthy¹s Rents
26 Dorset Street #13, Miller¹s Court

An installation by Dave Allen recreating the infamous Jack the Ripper murder of Mary Jane Kelly

http://www.flickr.com/photos/domyboo...7622617038549/

... Hope you enjoy the photos.

- Russell

Russell Etchen
----------------
Domy Books, Austin
913 E Cesar Chavez
Austin, Texas 78702

Sam Flynn · #3 11-06-2009, 03:16 AM

Irrespective of one's opinion of the subject matter, it's clear that an astonishing amount of work has gone into making the reconstruction as accurate as possible.

Ally · #4 11-06-2009, 03:19 AM

I would just like to point out that the re-creationist chose to put a "bolster" on the table. Thank you and goodnight.

Archaic · #5 11-06-2009, 03:51 AM

You're right Sam, it does look like it was a lot of work- but how can anybody possibly "enjoy" the photos?

Ally · #6 11-06-2009, 04:00 AM

I guess my question would be: what's the point? WHY did he do it?

Archaic · #7 11-06-2009, 07:35 AM

I agree, Ally.

I don't understand the point of it, I can't really visualize a setting in which such an "installation" might seem appropriate
or serve any meaningful purpose, and I cannot call it "Art".

I'm afraid the words "morbid", "disturbing" and "prurient" are what come to mind.

I'm a fan of the avante-garde and have quite a large number of friends who are artists, collectors, gallery owners & museum curators, but the only appropriate setting I can think of for this piece is perhaps as an aid in the study of crime scene forensics... but that doesn't seem very practical.

Does anyone happen to know if its creator ever explained their motivation or their goal?

(Please don't say "Art for Art's sake"

)

Best regards, Archaic

Altered DNA · #8 11-06-2009, 09:24 AM

Hello all,
My name is Dave Allen, and I am the artist responsible for the art installation at Domy Books here in Austin, Texas. I was hoping to post the info about the exhibit on this site before it became common knowledge, but in this day and age I guess that was a little too much to hope for...However I am glad it is here for all to see.
This weekend I will post another message explaining a lot more about the piece and how it came to be and why I chose Mary Kelly's murder for the exhibit, but for now, please know that I'm just an average guy with an interest in true crime, Jack The Ripper, and special effects.
Most of what went into the installation is information I gathered from reading this site for the last 4-5 months, as well as my own collection of Jack The Ripper books and various other sites I found while digging for information into this horrific crime.
If anyone has any questions that I can address in my next post, please feel free to write them into this thread and I'll do my best to honestly answer each and every one of them this weekend.
Thanks to everyone who posts interesting questions, arguments and information on this site. Without all of you, my installation wouldn't have been possible.

Sincerely,

Dave Allen

Khanada · #9 11-06-2009, 10:00 AM

It's too late at night, after too awful of a day, to click the links. Perhaps tomorrow I'll be up to it.

On the other hand, I am trying, after a cross-half-country move, not to be quite so tempted by the notion that Austin is now just 8 hours away, rather than 22 hours.

Archaic · #10 11-06-2009, 10:22 AM

Hi, Dave, thank you for offering to answer our questions.

I used to spend a lot of time in Austin & even lived there once for about 6 months. Austin's pretty hip. I was back for a visit just last January, and absolutely had to go cave-exploring at the Inner Space Caverns again, one of the coolest places in the world!
The only problem is that ever since getting home I've been craving good Texas Barbecue. It's hard to come by around here, so I've been going through a slow and terrible withdrawal.

As I stated above, I find your piece "McCarthy's Rents" disturbing; was that your intent?

Is it aimed at the people who maybe don't realize how horrific the Ripper murders really were?

I do realize how sick and reprehensible they were, and that victims like Mary Kelly were once living, breathing, feeling, human beings who suffered ghastly deaths, which is why seeing her turned into an 'art installation' bothers me.

>> Did you create this because you are trying to say something to the people who still think Jack the Ripper was a darkly romantic figure in a long black cloak?
If so, do you think it has been effective?

Thanks again for showing up so we could ask you directly; I appreciate it.

Best regards, Archaic