Robot Dogs with Musk and Kim Jong Un's Faces Draw Attention with 'Defecation Performance'... Sold Out Despite $100,000 Price Tag

All Units Sold Despite $100,000 Price Tag per Robot Dog
A Satirical Take on the Power of Technology and Culture
"Defecation" Print Performance Captivates Visitors

At a contemporary art event in the United States, a "robotic dog" featuring the faces of major American corporate tycoons and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un drew significant attention. Despite each unit being priced at over 100 million won, all were sold on the first day, generating tremendous interest. On December 11, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that at "Art Basel Miami Beach," the largest contemporary art event in North America held in Miami, Florida, on December 5 (local time), all the robotic dogs exhibited under the title "Regular Animals" were sold despite their high price.

This robotic dog artwork was created by digital artist Mike Winkelmann, known by his pseudonym Beeple, and is characterized by combining the faces of famous figures with a dog-shaped robot. Photo by AP Yonhap News

This artwork was created by digital artist Mike Winkelmann, known by his pseudonym Beeple, and is characterized by combining the faces of famous figures with a dog-shaped robot. The exhibition featured robots bearing the faces of global tech giants such as Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla; Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon; and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, as well as art world legends like Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. Robotic dogs based on the faces of Kim Jong Un and the artist himself were also on display.

The robots roamed freely within enclosures, exhibiting various behaviors such as spinning around like real dogs or stopping to gaze into space. Among these, what caught the most attention from visitors was the "defecation performance." A camera attached to the robot's chest would capture its surroundings and instantly print them out, with the prints dropping from the robot's rear, reminiscent of a real dog defecating.

The highlight that caught the most attention from visitors at this exhibition was the "defecation performance." A camera attached to the robot's chest captures the surroundings and instantly prints them out as a physical print. X (X)

Each celebrity robotic dog was produced as a limited edition of only two units, and despite the price per unit reaching $100,000 (approximately 146 million won), all were sold. Beeple explained, "The Picasso robot 'defecates' images in the style of Picasso, while the Warhol robot produces prints characteristic of Warhol. This is a form of generative art." He added, "There is no intention to attack anyone; the message is simply to face the reality we live in." He continued, "Today, our worldview is being reshaped by tech giants like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, who control powerful algorithms. We are living in an era where they decide what we see and what we do not see."