ROM Michael Lee Chin Crystal

Disgraced OCAD Student On Life After Fake ROM Bomb

Former OCAD student Thorarinn Jonsson spoke with The National Postin an article todaythat discusses his life 11 months after the brouhaha he created.

Jonsson was made infamous for hisFake Bomb art projectoutside the Royal Ontario Museum last fall, for whichhe was granted a dischargein a Toronto courtroom last month.

在这种问答,他说,他希望回到托罗nto. "I'm so in love with Toronto. I wish they were more positive towards me."

Jonsson's now studying at the Icelandic Art Academy, where he's up to more mischief.

He talks of a piece he did in Reykjavik that created a bit of a stir, albeit of Icelandic proportions:

"I rented this massive speaker system and I took it to the top floor of the schools' office building, in downtown Reykjavik, and five times a day I played the Muslim call to prayer.

"There was one Saturday morning, when it went off at dawn, and you're not supposed to make noise before 8 so a lot of people woke up. So the police were called, and the school had me shut down the piece."

This piece of "art" supposedly "reflected the way the idea of Muslims has entered popular consciousness. Kinda likechanging your middle name to Hussein, but with his own perverted artistic vision I guess.

Still, he considers his fake bomb art piece his finest work to date.

Are you glad Jonsson has left the Toronto art scene? Or do you wish his return, bringing along his take on recontextualized art to the our city once again?

Photo byRoger Cullman.


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversationLoadcomments

Latest in Arts

Toronto-based company known for immersive exhibits files for bankruptcy

Toronto is getting a Banksy exhibit this summer that's been selling out around the world

Free art festival is coming back to Toronto after a three-year hiatus

Toronto bakery in trouble over controversial mural after inspection

There's a giant mural made of trash in Toronto

Toronto is getting a Museum of Balls and it's got an enormous ball pit

Controversial new Toronto mural has locals confused and upset

Toronto photographer wants to tell your stories through your tattoos and scars