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'Pissing Pug' Artist Hit And Killed By Upper East Side 6 Train
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 14, 2017
Modified Oct 14, 2017
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By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 14, 2017
Modified Oct 14, 2017
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A man who was fatally struck by a train at an Upper East Side subway station on Thursday evening has been identified as Alex Gardega, the artist who placed a statue of a pug urinating on the "Fearless Girl" statue.
Gardega was pronounced dead at the 77th Street station after being hit by a southbound 6 train just after 6:30 p.m. on October 12th. The Daily News spoke to the motorman, James Muñoz, who "said the train was about 100 feet away from the station when the emergency brake kicked in."
“So I just had to investigate and see what was the cause,” Muñoz said. “I have a flashlight, I was able to see it clearly."
Muñoz said he found Gardega between the seventh train car and the maintenance catwalk that runs along the tracks. He said Gardega was likely on the tracks when he was struck.
In May, Gardega decided to add his statement to the popular "Fearless Girl" statue that was placed in Bowling Green, facing the "Charging Bull" statue. Gardega called the statue "corporate nonsense," referencing the fact that it was the work of a huge financial services firm (which was eventually accused of gender discrimination). He told the Post, "It has nothing to do with feminism, and it is disrespect to the artist that made the bull."
In an interview with Gothamist, Gardega further explained, "I wanted it to be, like, punk rock lo-fi as a statement.... I would respect ["Fearless Girl"] if it was done by a random artist standing up against Wall Street."
Gardega's family told the News, "Alex was a brilliant and passionate artist who loved to provoke reactions from people with his work."
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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