‘Entropa’ made a great news story this week.
The sculpture was commissioned by the Czech government to mark the start of their European Union presidency and illustrate their slogan: ‘A Europe without Barriers’.
Instead, Czech artist David Černý created a work lampooning crude national stereotypes.
With Bulgaria shown as a Turkish toilet the Czech ambassador was summoned to Sofia to explain himself. Germany is presented as a patchwork of motorways vaguely resembling a swastika. Britain is missing altogether.
Most government art is unobtrusive and bland. This piece is challenging and interesting.
The sculpture was commissioned by the Czech government to mark the start of their European Union presidency and illustrate their slogan: ‘A Europe without Barriers’.
Instead, Czech artist David Černý created a work lampooning crude national stereotypes.
With Bulgaria shown as a Turkish toilet the Czech ambassador was summoned to Sofia to explain himself. Germany is presented as a patchwork of motorways vaguely resembling a swastika. Britain is missing altogether.
Most government art is unobtrusive and bland. This piece is challenging and interesting.
Some of the parts seem to be ironic.
ReplyDeleteThis must be the case with Italy, who got the football pitch despite failing to reach the semi-finals at Euro 2008 ;-)
Just read that Černý is giving back to the Czech government all 2 mio. CZK he received for it.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the more I hear about Entropa (and the more pictures I see on internet) the more I like it.
I'm not sure if he's doing himself a favour by giving back the money (besides losing a more than decent year's income). One could get the impression he doesn't think his work is worth it.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, cool to see you read Oscar's blog too, Magdalena!
Hey Martin, always enjoy your comments! Keep it up! And interesting update Magdalena. Černý seems to want to make amends for deceiving the Czech government in the first place. I say he should have stuck to his guns and kept the cash! Artists, even controversial ones, need to make a living too. And Entropa has provided food for thought for people across Europe.
ReplyDeleteThe message the public gets is: He's probably so rich, he doesn't need the 2 million crowns anyway. I don't know if this is the case, but it fuels prejudices against those overpaid artists whose works sell for speculation-inflated fancy prices. Which takes us back to your October post, http://spooners-zeitgeist.blogspot.com/2008/10/art.html
ReplyDelete