Modern Art or an Impertinent Joke?

In this article, http://blogs.elpais.com/papeles-perdidos/2011/09/l.html#more, called The ‘comb’ of Catellan, or La ‘peineta’ de Catellan, a writer for El Pais is not very subtle about her opinion of the sculpture placed outside the headquarters of the Milan Stock Exchange created by the artist Maurizio Cattelan, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurizio_Cattelan, an Italian artist that lives in New York and is famous for his satirical and often outlandish art. Almost every comment was in direct opposition with Ms. Molina’s opinion.

->It's amazing that Ms. Molina in his explanation to the comments insists on lying! was never "covered"! well what is that to be "timid retreat"? No need to be a careful reader, if the lie was in the title! the sculpture was removed or blocked or anything like that. Discussion was, is and will remain, which is healthy is not odd for an artist like Cattelan.

->Ha, ha, ha. Angelita, commend to your guardian angel, because this does not save anyone. What a shame. Much embarrassment you cause the Lost Papers.

Cattelan is most famous for a sculpture he made of the pope being struck by a meteor, and once was commissioned in Amsterdam, to create an exhibit in one week, and since he decided that was not enough time, he broke into a different gallery and stole all the contents of the gallery including random objects like a typewriter and set them up as his own exhibit in the gallery that commissioned him. This sculpture is titled LOVE and is thought to be a rebuke against the prominent financial leaders who led the world into the current crisis. When I first read Ms. Molina’s article and the comments, I found myself siding with her, that he was just a prankster that called himself an artist and took serious issues too lightly. But the more I read about him, (interesting interview: http://www.indexmagazine.com/interviews/maurizio_cattelan.shtml ), the more I respect his artistic style. He obviously puts a lot of thought into his pieces; contrary to what a lot of people think (many just view him as a big joke). For example, he says about art, “"If art is serious about claiming a central role in today’s society and culture, this is the best chance it’s had in ages.... I think it’s time for artists to get over auction houses, galleries, and high-production-value exhibitions and start using our voices again." Sometimes the best way to get society’s attention is by being controversial. I think he knows this and uses it.