Shia LaBeouf runs around Amsterdam museum 144 times for bizarre art '#metamarathon'
Little did the bemused tourists know they know they were actually witnessing the actor’s latest artistic endeavour being performed. Several times.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Is he lost? Did he mean to wear that? Is his entire existence merely a concept?
Or so Shia LaBeouf’s unwitting audience of confused-looking tourists might have thought when they first clapped eyes on the actor, dressed in violet and green lycra, running laps around a museum in Amsterdam 144 times.
Little did they know they were witnessing the actor’s latest artistic endeavour – the “#metamarathon” performance – which was completed as a 12 hour arts conference went on (and on and on, presumably) inside.
Hendrik Folkerts, the Stedelijk museum’s public curator, explained to AFP that he was hosting a conference about how the world would be perceived by children of the Eighties if they were similarly absorbed by social media and the cult of the celebrity.
The “#metamarathon” marks the latest in a string of bizarre public displays from the 28-year-old star, who announced his retirement from public life after he was accused of plagiarising the work of graphic novelist Daniel Clowes in December to create his Cannes debut short HowardCantour.com.
His erratic behaviour appeared to reach a peak when he wore a brown paper bag over his head to the premiere of the Lars von Trier movie in February. It was scrawled with the message: “I am not famous any more”.
He followed this up by walking out of a press conference at the Berlin Film Festival, after plagiarising a famous quote by Eric Cantona. The footballer similarly walked out of a news conference in 1995 scheduled after his conviction for assault.
“When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea,” LaBeouf rasped, adding, “Thank you very much,” before pushing the microphone away and fleeing the scene.
After headbutting a fellow drinker in a London pub in January, he then claimed his entire life was “performance art”, actualising his statement by setting up an installation piece in the Cohen Gallery in Los Angeles entitled ‘#IAMSORRY’.
This sparked its own spate of plagiarism, mainly by the work of Sliders actor Jerry O’Connell, who set up rival installation ‘#IAMSORRYTOO’.
More recently in June, he was arrested at the Studio 54 theatre for disturbing a performance of Cabaret.
He later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments