Art Hoax or Artistic Freedom?
In the wake of the US presidential inauguration, Europe is reeling from some poorly made art decisions. The Czech Republic commissioned the well known Czech artist David Cerny to make a piece to commemorate the Czech’s six month presidency of the EU. They had intended that he create a piece expressing the unity of the EU and its member-partners with 27 artists from the 27 member-nations each contributing something to the piece. Instead the artist created a mosaic of EU countries each represented by a reprehensible depiction of the country in question. For example, Bulgaria is illustrated by hole in the floor toilets an themed d Romania is seen as a Dracula-amusement park. They should have known when he released the name, “Entropa.”
Should the EU rely on art commissions (which are notoriously difficult to predict especially in light of pressures not to stifle artistic creation)? Should this man be able to make whatever artistic statements he wants? Can the EU reject this commission? I think this piece is particularly up to some real debate.
3 years ago | Tags: Art EU Europe Barack Obama Commision New York Times Artistic Freedom
