A group of real-life ‘Sleeping Beauties’ are destined to sleep forever in the National Art Museum of Ukraine, unless worthy male patrons are prepared to wake them up with a single kiss.
No, this isn’t a fairy-tale story—but actually an art project by Ukrainian-Canadian artist Taras Polataiko, which he appropriately titles—‘Sleeping Beauty’.
This fairy-tale inspired project is based on an old folk tale by French author Charles Perrault, where a young girl is cursed to sleep for 100 years, only to be awaken by her true love’s kiss.
Polataiko had cast several female volunteers as ‘Sleeping Beauties’—each taking turns to ‘sleep’ for two hours in the museum every day, from 22nd August to 9th September.
Dressed in white, they lay motionless on a bed—awaiting a kiss from any eager male patron.
However, before the men can kiss the Beauties, there is a catch to the project.
According to the The Huffington Post , the potential ‘princes’ had to sign a contract which states, “If I kiss the Beauty and she opens her eyes, I agree to marry her.”
The ‘Sleeping Beauties’ also had similar contracts—agreeing to marry the kisser if they open their eyes while being kissed.
“The tension of the performance is in the seductiveness and fear of the ultimate moment,” describes the project’s press release.
“The viewers will have to think twice before kissing the Beauty. The Beauty will have to decide if the ultimate moment has come or not. The show will end the moment the Beauty opens her eyes.”
Are there any guys out there willing to step up to the plate?
[via The Huffington Post and National Art Museum of Ukraine]