Mosquitoes Must Die.

October 16, 2011 2:42 PM

Dennis Ashbaugh (previously) makes art exploring our human relationship to science, biotechnology and genetic research. He also doesn't like mosquitoes very much.

Serra, Andre, diSuvero, Judd, Heiser, and deMaria all have made great work in 3D. Also I had considered the 7 billion people on the planet, each of whom, has probably had the personal experience of being “bitten” by at least one mosquito and they could be a rather large audience for my work. I continued working on and refining the traps for two more years.

The mosquito traps are "ready," and can be viewed here.
posted by obscurator (10 comments total)

I'd say something coherent, but mosquitoes were buzzing in my ear all night

huh. these look okay, but not that strange
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 3:32 PM on October 16, 2011

Addressing the question of whether the traps work:

Do these work? Of course they do! In fact, they work just as well as all the other bogus sprays,swatters and backyard doodads on the market.

and

DO THE TRAPS WORK? Yes, of course they do! At the bare minimum, these traps are to mosquitoes what piss is to Duchamps’ urinal. Or, for that matter, what hot air is to those terrific Koons’ balloon puppies. As art they don’t need to work or do anything in the conventional sense. They are sculptures intended to be provocative in any way possible. So let’s not have any of these dipshit questions about whether my traps work.

I think a simple "no" would have sufficed.
posted by vidur at 3:47 PM on October 16, 2011 [1 favorite]

i wonder if this guy would be all up on skeeters if it weren't for the gates foundation.

BORING
posted by beefetish at 4:00 PM on October 16, 2011

Personally, after having to navigate the 'traps' site, I'm firmly of the opinion that Flash Must Die.
posted by ArkhanJG at 4:09 PM on October 16, 2011 [5 favorites]

Skeeters suck.
posted by jonmc at 4:17 PM on October 16, 2011

This is patently the wrong approach, as there are already perfectly good mosquito catchers out there. Why you should care, indeed.
posted by sneebler at 4:33 PM on October 16, 2011

Terrible
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 4:34 PM on October 16, 2011

I appear to be viewing some kind of collection of everyday garbage curated by a severely schizophrenic ex-shaman.

Nice work, I suppose, if you can get it.

Anyone taking odds on this guy doing a show with Damian Hirst or Jeff Koons in the next few years? This would be followed shortly by a bazillion-dollar auction of a small unremarkable twig wrapped in wire twist ties, used gum and one or more kinds of bodily fluid.
posted by loquacious at 8:30 PM on October 16, 2011 [1 favorite]

I like this sort of thing as found objects.

I appear to be viewing some kind of collection of everyday garbage curated by a severely schizophrenic ex-shaman.

I've created a few props like that.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:31 PM on October 16, 2011

Yeah looks like a bunch of junk glued together.
posted by delmoi at 8:36 PM on October 16, 2011