SA artist beaten up in Italy

2005-11-21 22:50

Michelé O' Connor

Cape Town - A South African artist was assaulted and seriously injured in a small town in northern Italy at the weekend.

Ed Young, 27, a conceptual artist, is due to undergo surgery in an Italian hospital on Wednesday.

Elize Young, his mother, said two Italian men overpowered her son shortly after he had sent an e-mail from an internet cafe and drawing money at an ATM in Ceunen.

"They not only robbed him of all his money and personal belongings, but also badly assaulted him.

"They nearly killed my child. His left leg was so badly injured below the knee that he will have to undergo an operation.

"He was admitted to hospital, but then discharged. He is taking painkillers he is re-admitted for surgery.

His two attackers were still at large and it didn't seem like a normal robbery.

Called an 'unwelcome tourist'

One of the attackers, who fled initially, returned to assault Ed further because he was an "unwelcome tourist", said his mother.

She said she had wanted to organise for him to return to South Africa immediately, but doctors said he would not be allowed to fly because of his injury.

Young became famous in 2002 after "selling" Bruce Gordon, the owner of a pub in Long Street, as a "work of art".

Suzy Bell of Cape Town at the time "bought" Gordon for R52 000 and donated him to the South African National Gallery.

That art exhibition was help to raise funds for the Michaelis Art School of the University of Cape Town.

Young said her son was travelling overseas with Gordon in order to take part in exhibitions in Texas, Turin and Italy.

- Die Burger