Rats snatch Arts Traps


　The rodents of NG7 now have more than just cats and rat-catchers to worry about - countesy of the Japanese taxpayer!

　A hundred mousetraps, part of an exhibition of contemporary Japanese art - founded by the Japanese governments - have been stolen from the Art Exchange on Gregory Boulevard.

　According to arts worker Beth Noble, the mousetraps disappeared over the course of the "Metamorphosis" exhibition: "100 of them were levitated above the ground from helium baloons and then they just trickled away. It was like the Pied Piper had been round."

　According to City Arts co-ordinator, Bea Tobolewska. the Japanese artist, Makoto Morimura, was very disappointed at the thefts; "He just didn`t anticipate that people would do that. I thought at first that the artist was cleaning up as the balloons fell to the floor, but by the time we realised they were being stolen it was too late. There were only about four left at the end."
　Morimura printed some colour posters requseting the return of the mousetraps. These have been put on display in community centres and shops on the Green.
　The mousetraps were purchased from a 1.400 pounds grant from the Japanese government to the artist put on the exhibition.


Nick Payne