A fairy-tale-inspired art exhibit gives men who consider themselves regular Prince Charmings a chance to kiss real-life sleeping beauties -- that is, if they're ready for a lifelong commitment.
Yes, there's a catch for both the beauties and Charmings that participate in Taras Polataiko's live art installation at the National Art Museum of Ukraine. The women -- the main stars of Polataiko's effort -- are put on display as they "sleep" for three days. The men are then allowed to steal a kiss from one of the snoozers. But before the slumber and kisses, there's an all-important contract.
"Everybody, any viewer, will have to sign the contract, which says, 'If' -- this is very important, because nobody has to -- 'If I kiss the beauty and she opens her eyes while being kissed, I marry her,'" Polataiko recently told The Telegraph.
Likewise, according to a press release for the exhibit, the beauties sign a form that states, "If I open my eyes while being kissed, I agree to marry the kisser."
While Polataiko originally feared that no viewer-suitors would participate, there's been no shortage so far. And some brave would-be princes have even risked a wake-up with a smooch.
"I wanted to feel that girl," one kisser told The Telegraph. "I wanted to feel her with my heart, but I didn't feel anything."
As for the woman he kissed, she's confident the art effort doubles as an earnest search for love.
"If it's my true love, I will feel it on an intuitive level," she explained to the paper. "Secondly, if I don't feel it, I won't open my eyes. Anything can happen in life, and suddenly it's fate. What if it's the only way I'll meet my soul mate?"
But now she may be asking herself, "What if it's not?"
"The show will end the moment the Beauty opens her eyes," teased the press release. But that hasn't happened for any of the beauties yet, so the show goes on -- at least until its scheduled end on Sept. 9.
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