Gothenburg teen behind 'homeless beggar' hoax
A 13-year-old boy has revealed that a mock-up of a homeless man that caused a stir in Gothenburg this week was actually part of a school art project.
The young student, identified only as Adam by regional newspaper GT, said he thought homelessness had become a a common sight on the streets of his hometown.
"Partly I did it as something fun, partly I did it because beggars are part of the city now," he told GT.
"Some people give money without really checking who they're giving it to. I wanted to show that things aren't always what they seem."
Adam told GT that he made the life-size doll out of cardboard and second-hand clothing.
He then placed the doll at the city's train station, before carrying it over to a park near the central thoroughfare Avenyn.
The mysterious "fake beggar" went on to garner national media attention after national news agency TT wrote about the doll, quoting a police spokesman who theorized it could be a case of fraud.
The doll, which even had a beer can in its hand, even attracted the attention of several passersby.
"I was standing a short distance away and filming how people reacted, that's part of the project," he told GT, explaining that the entire installation is part of a school art assignment.
In the end, a passer-by had placed seven kronor ($1.10) next to the mock-up, a sum that Adam eventually chose to gave to a real life person asking for money on the street.
The Local/at
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The young student, identified only as Adam by regional newspaper GT, said he thought homelessness had become a a common sight on the streets of his hometown.
"Partly I did it as something fun, partly I did it because beggars are part of the city now," he told GT.
"Some people give money without really checking who they're giving it to. I wanted to show that things aren't always what they seem."
Adam told GT that he made the life-size doll out of cardboard and second-hand clothing.
He then placed the doll at the city's train station, before carrying it over to a park near the central thoroughfare Avenyn.
The mysterious "fake beggar" went on to garner national media attention after national news agency TT wrote about the doll, quoting a police spokesman who theorized it could be a case of fraud.
The doll, which even had a beer can in its hand, even attracted the attention of several passersby.
"I was standing a short distance away and filming how people reacted, that's part of the project," he told GT, explaining that the entire installation is part of a school art assignment.
In the end, a passer-by had placed seven kronor ($1.10) next to the mock-up, a sum that Adam eventually chose to gave to a real life person asking for money on the street.
The Local/at
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