Mr. Peacock

"Invited by Harald Szeemann to the XLIX Venice Biennale (2001) and aware of the sycophantic attention lavished by the art establishment during the opening parties, he planned a 'live' work that didn't require his presence entitled The Ambassador. Mr. Peacock (a real bird) occupied a hotel room and was assigned a keeper to attend the Biennale's opening festivities."

from Francis Alÿs: The Prophet and the Fly, Catherine Lampert, Turner, Madrid, 2003