Take the Money and Run (artwork)

Take the Money and Run is a piece of artwork by Jens Haaning, commissioned by the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art Aalborg in Denmark in 2021.[1][2][3] The artwork consists of an empty canvas, intended to act as a commentary on poor work wages.[2]

The Kunsten Museum commissioned Haaning to reproduce two of his earlier pieces in which he represented the annual wages of Austrian and Danish workers by framing piles of kroner and euro bills, offering the artist with 532,549 Danish kroner to use for the reproductions; instead, Haaning delivered two blank canvases to the museum. The museum demanded that Haaning return the money that was originally intended for the artwork, and in turn triggered a response from the artist:

This is only a piece of art if I don't return the money.

— Jens Haaning[4]

Kunsten Museum later filed a civil lawsuit to recover the money from Haaning.[5][6] In September 2023, Haaning was ordered by Copenhagen City Court to repay 492,549kr; the original amount, minus 40,000kr for artist's and viewing fees, as the exhibition had gone ahead. He was also ordered to pay 78,500kr in court fees.[7]

The verdict was appealed, but before the case went to the national court, in 2024 Jens Haaning and Kunsten settled out of court. The foundation "Den Obelske Familiefond" donated an undisclosed amount to make the settlement possible.[8]

See also

• Monochrome painting
• Conceptual art

References

1. "A museum says they gave an artist $84,000 in cash to use in artwork. He delivered blank canvases and titled them 'Take the Money and Run.'". CBS News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
2. Chappell, Bill (29 September 2021). "For $84,000, An Artist Returned Two Blank Canvasses Titled 'Take The Money And Run'". NPR. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
3. "Danish museum wants artist to pay back money after producing blank canvasses". BBC News. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
4. "Jenns Hanning Delivered Two Blank Canvases to a Danish Museum". The New York Times. 1 September 2021. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
5. "Take the Money and Run – Clarification of Concepts and FAQ". Kunsten. Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
6. Hamilton, Ben (17 January 2022). "Art museum issues lawsuit to recover funds from 'Take the Money and Run' artist". The Copenhagen Post. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
7. Nielsen, Silas Bay. "Kunstner, der stak museumspenge i egen lomme, dømt til at betale knap en halv million tilbage". DR (in Danish). Danish Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
8. "Take the Money and Run: Begrebsforklaring og FAQ". kunsten.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 19 May 2024.