A sculpture celebrating the Czech presidency of the European Union has become embroiled in controversy. It features symbols of E.U. member countries — but Romania is represented as a Vampire theme park and Bulgaria is portrayed as a Turkish toilet system. Belgium, however, is a box of chocolates.
An art exhibit in the lobby of the European Council building in Brussels, sponsored by the Czech Presidency of the European Union, has triggered a heated debate about how EU member states see each other.
The artists who were invited were free to make their own choices, says the Czech EU Presidency.
From the Czech presidency’s announcement issued on Jan. 12:
Entropa: Stereotypes are Barriers to be Demolished
Today, the Czech Republic unveiled a modern art installation called ‘Entropa’ in the atrium of
the Justus Lipsius builiding of the EU Council in Brussels. The installation will remain in its stand-by mode until Thursday 15 January when it will ’start to live’ in the full regime. On that occasion a press conference will be held in the Justus Lipsius building in the presence of Alexandr Vondra, the Deputy Prime Minister for EU Affairs of the Czech Republic, and Milena Vicenová, the Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the European Union, among others.Entropa is the joint work of 27 artists, each one from a different Member State. Each object depicts one Member State using common stereotypes or prejudices. The Presidency commissioned the artists without any restrictions and they were free to create any object they liked.
‘Sculpture, and art more generally, can speak where words fail. In line with the Czech Presidency motto a ‘Europe without Barriers’, we gave the 27 artists the same opportunity to express themselves freely, as a proof that in today´s Europe there is no place for censorship,’ said Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra. ‘In return we got an uncommon yet common piece of art. I am confident in Europe´s open mind and capacity to appreciate
such a project.’‘The freedom of art as an extension of the freedom of speech is the core value of democracy,’ said Milena Vicenová, the Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the European Union. ‘There are many barriers to integration and cooperation in Europe. Stereotypes are such barriers. When we point out the stereotypes we begin demolishing
them. Making fun of prejudice destroys it most efficiently.’The Czech Presidencys motto a ‘Europe without Barriers’ expresses the dedication to remove remaining obstacles to cooperation between the EU Member States. In particular obstacles to the free movement of goods, services, persons and capital. The Presidency notes that other barriers also hamper a fruitful cooperation between the European nations.
Oh, the irony. More from Fistful of Euros.