Sweden’s ‘Banksy Mouse,’ Anonymouse, unmasked after 9 years in the shadows

印刷用画面を開く

Posted

Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. scurry / ˈskɜr i / (v.) – to move quickly with short, light steps, especially when in a hurry
    Example:

    The students were scurrying back to their seats when the teacher returned.


  2. delicatessen / ˌdɛl ɪ kəˈtɛs ən / (n.) – a small shop or a part of a shop that sells high-quality prepared foods like cheese, cold cooked meats, salads, and sandwiches, often from other countries
    Example:

    He stopped by the delicatessen to get food for lunch.


  3. anonymity / ˌæn əˈnɪm ɪ ti / (n.) – the state of being unknown by name to most people
    Example:

    The anonymity provided by fake usernames on social media appeals to many users.


  4. prank / præŋk / (n.) – a playful or funny trick that is done to surprise someone or make someone laugh
    Example:

    The theater group performed a series of clever pranks to entertain the audience.


  5. secretively / ˈsiː krə t̬ɪv li / (adv.) – in a way that is done quietly or hidden from others so that no one knows
    Example:

    They acted secretively so no one would find out their plan.


Article

Read the text below.

After nine years scurrying in the shadows, the two-person Swedish street art collective known as “Anonymouse”—dubbed “Banksy Mouse” by Swedish media—has finally stepped out of the dark and into a museum exhibition.


The mystery began in late 2016 when miniature homes and businesses, all measuring well below knee height, began appearing on the streets of southern Sweden. It looked like a bunch of mice had opened a tiny restaurant named Il Topolino and neighboring nut delicatessen Noix de Vie, but there was no clue to who created it besides a signature from an anonymous artist group “Anonymouse.”


The original creation on Bergsgatan, a busy street in Malmö, quickly attracted attention and went viral, drawing crowds. The project was even featured on the popular U.S. TV show The Late Late Show with James Corden.


The two artists behind the whiskery art project stepped out of their anonymity earlier this year. Swedes Elin Westerholm and Lupus Nensén both work in show business, making props and sets for film and television.


“We’re building something for children,” says 42-year-old Nensén.


“Most of us have some kind of relationship to a world where mice live parallel to ours. If it’s The Rescuers or if it’s Rescue Rangers or Beatrix Potter or Astrid Lindgren, it exists in a variety of shapes around the world.”


On June 27, a selection of the duo’s creations has been put on display at the Skissernas Museum in Lund, a short trip from Malmö, to celebrate nine years of “mouse pranks and creativity.”


The duo says the idea for “Anonymouse” came during a trip to Paris in 2016.


Their first creation took six months to build, before they secretively installed it on Bergsgatan one cold, dark night.


“It’s amazing to see a 70-year-old come over with crutches, and people help them down and have a look,” says Nensén.


“It really does bring out the child in everyone.”


The following nine years saw more mouse homes and businesses appear in unexpected places: First in Sweden, then all over the world.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • One of the artists behind “Anonymouse” said their tiny mouse scenes “bring out the child in everyone.” What do you think that means? What kinds of things—besides art—make people feel like a child again? Why do you think these moments are important? Discuss.
  • Do you think adults should try to stay playful or curious like children sometimes? Why or why not? What are the benefits and challenges of “thinking like a child” when you’re an adult? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The “Anonymouse” artists kept their real names secret for many years. Why do you think some artists choose to stay anonymous? If you were a famous artist, would you want people to know your real name or true identity? Why or why not? What are some advantages and disadvantages of sharing your true identity with the public? Discuss.
  • Do you think people enjoy art more when they don’t know who made it, like with “Anonymouse,” or does it become more interesting when we know the artist’s real name, background, and reasons for creating it? Why? Which do you prefer, knowing or not knowing the artist? Why? Discuss.