A sculpture supposedly put together by 27 artists from each of the countries of the EU has been revealed by Bruno Waterfield, the Telegraph's man in Brussels, as a prank. Instead of being a group exploration of "clichés and stereotypes", the giant Airfix-style kit turns out to be a joke created by one Czech artist, David Ceˇrny´
Instead of being a group exploration of "clichés and stereotypes", the giant Airfix-style kit turns out to be a joke created by one Czech artist, David Ceˇrny´
It seemed like such a good idea at the time: what better way to celebrate the Czech Republic's presidency of the European Union than a giant art installation, with input from every member state, showing what we really feel about our place in Europe? True, some of the 27 entries were a little unusual. The eight-tonne work, entitled Entropa, depicted Romania as a Dracula theme park and the Netherlands as completely covered by water, with only the tops of minarets sticking out. The French component had the word "Strike!" emblazoned on it. And was that a hint of a swastika in the German entry, a bird's-eye view of a series of autobahns? It was several days, however, before anyone complained and the EU began to smell a rat. Only when Bulgaria - depicted as a Turkish lavatory - objected did the Czechs start to question the organiser of the project, the artist David Cerny. Yesterday Mr Cerny admitted that the whole thing had been a hoax, and that he had created all the sculptures himself and invented the names of the "up-and-coming" artists from the 27 member states. There was also the question of what became of £350,000 in funding meant for the artists.
It seemed like such a good idea at the time: what better way to celebrate the Czech Republic's presidency of the European Union than a giant art installation, with input from every member state, showing what we really feel about our place in Europe?
True, some of the 27 entries were a little unusual. The eight-tonne work, entitled Entropa, depicted Romania as a Dracula theme park and the Netherlands as completely covered by water, with only the tops of minarets sticking out. The French component had the word "Strike!" emblazoned on it. And was that a hint of a swastika in the German entry, a bird's-eye view of a series of autobahns?
It was several days, however, before anyone complained and the EU began to smell a rat. Only when Bulgaria - depicted as a Turkish lavatory - objected did the Czechs start to question the organiser of the project, the artist David Cerny. Yesterday Mr Cerny admitted that the whole thing had been a hoax, and that he had created all the sculptures himself and invented the names of the "up-and-coming" artists from the 27 member states.
There was also the question of what became of £350,000 in funding meant for the artists.
The paintings of Russia's prominent politicians, public figures and athletes are going to be exhibited at Evropa Hotel in St. Petersburg January 14. Vladimir Putin promises to become the highest-earning painter at this point. The painting, which was painted by St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko, was sold at 11 million rubles ($366,000), whereas the work by the former Russian president and the incumbent prime minister is expected to bring a higher profit.
Blue Square Premier side Kettering Town have offered to waive their £160,000 fee in order to have their FA Cup fourth-round tie with Fulham televised. FA Cup television broadcasters ITV and Setanta have decided not to show the Rockingham Road tie on 24 January live.... Kettering feel that the game should be shown because of the gap between the two clubs in league places, and to raise awareness and charitable aid in Palestine, as their match shirt bares the slogan Palestine Aid.
Blue Square Premier side Kettering Town have offered to waive their £160,000 fee in order to have their FA Cup fourth-round tie with Fulham televised.
FA Cup television broadcasters ITV and Setanta have decided not to show the Rockingham Road tie on 24 January live....
Kettering feel that the game should be shown because of the gap between the two clubs in league places, and to raise awareness and charitable aid in Palestine, as their match shirt bares the slogan Palestine Aid.
we get in at 11.10 am, and don't fly out again till 19.45, which seems to leave a good chance open to see and experience something of the city.
my thoughts are travelling along these lines http://www.hammamspain.com/madrid/reservas/ , we could eat there too if you like middle eastern food, our treat.
apparently madrid is only 13 k. from the airport, so it should give us a chance to visit, tho' i expect i'll feel like something extruded form a toothpaste tube after 11 hours flight from S. Jose...
the hammam/massage/restaurant would leave me arriving late that night in Roma, followed by a 2 1/2 hr car ride, still feeling marginally humanoid.
hope you can make it m ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
