After months of media hype, an art school student who claimed he would have gay sex and lose his virginity as part of a live performance piece followed through with his plans -- though not in the way many expected.
Last October, Clayton Pettet, a 19-year-old art student at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London, announced that he would have sex in front of a crowd as part of a performance piece called "Art School Stole My Virginity."
At the time he stated, "I've held on to my virginity for 19 years, and I'm not throwing it away lightly. Basically it's like I am losing the stigma around virginity," according to the Daily Star. He added, "I want the audience to see if anything has changed between me and my partner."
Originally slated to take place in late January, the piece was later rescheduled for April 2 at the former BBC London headquarters, which now functions as a performance space.
Well... it happened. But Pettet definitely did not have anal sex as many were led to believe he would.
Instead, approximately 120 people reportedly packed the ticketed event and were then asked to insert a banana into Pettet's mouth a number of times.
One of the attendees told Dazed Digital:
A full description of the performance piece can be read at Dazed Digital, as well as an interview with Pettet.
In the interview the artist claims that he never explicitly promised he would have anal sex during the performance piece and said, "I think if people were expecting something else, it shows what they really wanted. They didn’t want an art piece, they wanted to see me have sex. If they came for the art, they wouldn’t be as disappointed -- they’d know there were things to read between the lines for."
Those who attended the event seemed to have a mixed response to the piece and took to Twitter to express their opinions:
Check out the slideshow below for some images from Pettet's performance. Photos courtesy of Willow Garvis Photography.
Last October, Clayton Pettet, a 19-year-old art student at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London, announced that he would have sex in front of a crowd as part of a performance piece called "Art School Stole My Virginity."
At the time he stated, "I've held on to my virginity for 19 years, and I'm not throwing it away lightly. Basically it's like I am losing the stigma around virginity," according to the Daily Star. He added, "I want the audience to see if anything has changed between me and my partner."
Originally slated to take place in late January, the piece was later rescheduled for April 2 at the former BBC London headquarters, which now functions as a performance space.
Well... it happened. But Pettet definitely did not have anal sex as many were led to believe he would.
Instead, approximately 120 people reportedly packed the ticketed event and were then asked to insert a banana into Pettet's mouth a number of times.
One of the attendees told Dazed Digital:
The booth was very, very small. I crouched to get in. Pettet was sat inside, still in his pants, with two piles of bananas in front of him.
"I am your anal virgin," he said. "You are my partner. Pick up a banana." I immediately started to panic: penetrating a 19-year-old was not on my to-do list tonight, even if it's with a piece of fruit. "Now penetrate with my mouth eight times."
I gratefully slid the banana into Pettet's mouth as he stared me down. Then he took the banana out of my hand, snapped it in two and told me to leave.
A full description of the performance piece can be read at Dazed Digital, as well as an interview with Pettet.
In the interview the artist claims that he never explicitly promised he would have anal sex during the performance piece and said, "I think if people were expecting something else, it shows what they really wanted. They didn’t want an art piece, they wanted to see me have sex. If they came for the art, they wouldn’t be as disappointed -- they’d know there were things to read between the lines for."
Those who attended the event seemed to have a mixed response to the piece and took to Twitter to express their opinions:
So disappointed with Clayton Pettet's performance yesterday. Art hoaxes are fine when its though out and creative #ArtSchoolStoleMyVirginity
— Rohit K Dasgupta (@rhitsvu) April 2, 2014Tonight I saw Clayton Pettet perform 'Artschool Stole My Virginity'. Still not quite sure what to think. It was everything I did NOT expect.
— Steffen Michels (@steffenmichels) April 1, 2014clayton criticised for proposing to have conventional sex... and then criticised for not having conventional sex? #artschoolstolemyvirginity
— Anna Taylor (@annannataylor) April 2, 2014Check out the slideshow below for some images from Pettet's performance. Photos courtesy of Willow Garvis Photography.