Orvillecopter cat helicopter

Is this cat copter art?

What is an Orvillecopter? Dutch artist Bart Jansen describes his creation as “half-cat, half-machine” a cat helicopter.
It’s half creepy, and half funny. But is it art?

Bart Jansen is a normal-looking, 30-something artist. He has kids, and fits solar-panels for a living. But in 2012, when his cat Orville got hit by a car, everything changed.
Jansen decided it would be a shame to simply bury his beloved cat, so he drew inspiration from his pet’s namesake — Orville Wright, one of the Wright Brothers, the inventors of heavier-than-air flight.

Orvillecopter drawing

Orvillecopter drawin

Mr. Jansen said after a period of mourning he had Orville stuffed, and decided to pay tribute to Orville with an art project. He created the Orvillecopter.

Orville, the Orvillecopter
The Orvillecopter is exactly what it looks like: A taxidermied cat with a plastic propeller attached to each paw (no animals were harmed for this project).

Orvillecopter, on display at museum

Orvillecopter, on display at museum

        Arjen Beltman, a drone pilot, got involved.

Orvillecopter with Bart Jensen and Arjen Beltman

Orvillecopter with Bart Jansen and Arjen Beltman

In 2012, the Orvillecopter was at the Kunstrai art festival in Amsterdam, the Dutch capital.

The response was huge. It was covered everywhere from Mail Online to Forbes to the Los Angeles Times. The unconventional drone caused “global outrage” after footage of it went viral. Not sure if this is just too freaky, or just let Orville fly. What do you think?


Is this art?