The Pink Elephant in The Room

Art is controversial. Think Damien Hirst, Marcel Duchamp, Andres Serrano, and now Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.

In part of the 16th Biennale of Sydney, seven venues have been filled with art from more than 180 contemporary artists from around the world.

"This year's theme, Revolutions - Forms That Turn, urges artists to rebel. The stuffed horse is a 1999 work by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. Christov-Bakargiev sees the stiff horse as a metaphor for thwarted revolution. 'At certain historical periods there is always a moment of social despair where people are no longer able to tolerate the pain and hardship of their times," she said. "I think we are at a stage where the world has to invent new political systems to protect the weak in society due to the great inequalities that globalisation has caused.' "

More thought provoking work for the shows below:••••