Czech Republic chooses a bit of provocation to herald its EU presidency - International Herald Tribune »
Posted By gamahuche 1 year ago in Arts & Entertainment
BRUSSELS : Bulgaria is one giant lavatory, France has gone on strike and Spain's construction industry has concreted the entire country. Britain, meanwhile, has disappeared from the European continent altogether.
When some of Europe's artists were asked to portray their countries and how they see the European Union, organizers hoped for a provocative exhibition. But the results - due to be unveiled here Monday - may have officials choking on their morning croissants.
When they arrive at work, diplomats will be exposed to a satirical portrayal of Poland's Roman Catholic Church and an image of the Netherlands, submerged in seawater, with just minarets still visible. Italy is represented by a display illustrating its "autoerotic" obsession with soccer.
Organizers hope that it will stimulate something rather rare: public interest in the EU.
The work was commissioned by the Czech Republic to mark the start of its EU presidency, and it took three trucks to transport it from Prague to the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels, where the EU's governments meet.
Mounting some form of display is customary when taking on the rotating EU presidency, but normally they are uncontroversial. France, which held the job until January, erected a giant balloon in its national colors.
Although worried that they might have gone too far for some tastes, the Czechs defend their exhibit, perhaps aware that censoring it would provoke more criticism than anything in it.
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Submitted By:
gamahuche
"I would rather be a square peg than fit in a pigeon hole" -
an essay which won me the "Lamb Essay Prize" at the Religious ...
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gamahuche1 year ago
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Now this IS my cup of tea!
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I'm a dedicated European, of course - but these happenings which are designed to "epater la bourgeoisie" - shock them rigid, those that have any rigidity potential - are the icing on the cake for me anmd by far make up for the dismalness of our grey President who got his knickers in a twist about hanging the darn EU flag over Prague Castle.
I don't know who was responsible for hiring Cerny but anyone and everyone in the Czech Republic will be totally unsurprised that he has caused a stir and, honestly, most will be delighted. There has been - and remains - so much kowtowing to bureaucracy in our culture, whether under Austrian rule, Nazi rule, or Communism - that the urge for some provocative sabotage of the system becomes irresistible and a marvellous release.-
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gamahuche1 year ago
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Cerny specifically, over several decades now, has been a genuine provocateur and prankster who with his jokes and games makes our Presiden't provocation of the EU and his disastrous negativity look the truly childish one.
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The wikipedia entry for him is very weak, so, paradoxically!, is his own home-page but I could certainly recommend this interview - as long as you can deal with "adult" - or "childish" language - depending on your point of view.
Interestingly enough he dates his career to the famous Pink Tank - a Russian one, but there was an equally iconic one oof a trabbbie with testicles..
The trabant was the most common E. German communist car, a tiny box on wheels with something like a two-stroke engine. There came a time, in 1989, when E. Germans were allowed some freedom of travel and many of them came to Prague in their trabbies - which were actually also much loved here - and many left them behind.
Cerny put one on legs - I believe that it had testicles too but haven't been able to verify this evening since my muse/guru is having a nap. Perhaps later..
Here's a great story about it being moved - http://www.radio.cz/en/article/91182 - in the gardens of the German Embassy! - an interview with the German ambassador at the time.
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gamahuche1 year ago
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YES! I REALLY f'ed it up!!
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Work deadline tomorrow, a partner I need to wake up in 7 mins from now and pump up with coffee, etc. to get us through the night and a total snafu trying to gert it out there..
Its one of the closest to my heart that I've ever posted - and actually nothing to do with hero-worshipping Cerny, or anything like that!
Its just that he really hit the zeitgeist of the moment so many times and this really seems like a marvellous counter to our snake of a president to make an impact, turn some heads and hopefully get lots of laughs out of them too!
I hope the story survives and shines despite my incompetence du jour!
Now 2 mins to make that cup of exquisite organic coffee..
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sumptuousdigs1 year ago
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Well I'm not so parochial as I am nearsighted. It's refreshing to see (or read, as I anticipate some photos of the mentioned art display in the near future)that Europe still has the ribald penchant for humor and self deprecation that the cartoonists displayed in the '50s. One thing is for sure. It will get noticed!
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Please Gamahuche, keep us posted. -
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gamahuche1 year ago
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I know, I know.. I'm only here now 'cos we're working shifts. I get the rough version and then have to groom it and make it right for the topic. This is an easy job, about media, but a tight deadline - and here comes another chunk!
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Spadecaller1 year ago
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Looking forward to the artist's visions for the final icing on the cake. The giant French balloon does seem apropos - symbolically; a grand display of hot air sealed in the national colors should be something most people can relate to without straining their brains in the process.
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gamahuche1 year ago
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I've been looking for some visuals and so far have only found a couple of small ones here:
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http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUST...
which is also a good article about the project. It does seem that on Wednesdasy there'll be the start of another phase when some of the displays start moving.I hope I'll be able to post a follow-up with visuals - watch this space!
The more I hear, the happier I am that there are still some people who can laugh and have fun in Europe - about themselves, about their politics and their politicians!
It definitely helps me to look on the bright side of life!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo
Just last night I got a call from a dear friend, now living in France with whom I watched MP weekly, every Wednesday night - it was a gathering!
Czech humour tends to be disrespectful of bureaucracy, pomposity, authority and also eschews the backslapping activities that I associate with one of our Euro neighbours where nothing is funnier than someone getting beer spilt all over them.
That is NOT considered funny here - its considered a shameful waste -unless its one of those generic euro-beers that are trying to invade, mostly unsuccessfully.!
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gamahuche1 year ago
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In another project of Cerny's,entitled "Shark", which I hadn't heard about till now: [he] "immersed a model of a nearly-naked and bound Saddam Hussein in a tank of formaldehyde at a time when Muslims worldwide were protesting against Danish cartoons of the Islamic prophet Mohammed."
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gamahuche1 year ago
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"Entropa: Stereotypes are Barriers to be Demolished" - official title - perhaps I already mentioned it!
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And her's the Czech Govt.'s Official Release:
http://www.vlada.cz/en/media-centrum/aktualne/entr... -
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gamahuche1 year ago
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And to wrap this up - at least - for the moment
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"Europe needs the 'shocking' Czechs" from the conservative Daily Telegraph:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/bruno_waterfield/blog...
THAT's what I like to hear!!
Never mind silly old phobic cranky miserable old grey Klaus but a big YES to the spirit of freedom, playful anarchy and shocking the bourgeoisie which when its done well here is done VERY well!!!
Cheers to that!
Now - anyone getting any inspiration for ways of livening up the Obama Inauguration??
I did receive my annual card from the Chez Panisse family yesterday - I guess they don't do airmail - with a very interesting pic of a "White House" looking like a renaissance castle with [presumably vegetable] gardens laid out. looking like the famous historic gardens of Heidelberg in Rosicrucian days. Now THAT could be interesting! -
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