‘Bulgaria as Toilet’ Part of Controversial EU Art Installation Covered
BalkanTravellers.com
Upon the installation’s unveiling just over a week ago, Bulgaria was immediately offended by the portrayal and eventually demanded officially that the part be removed.
As BalkanTravellers.com reported last week, the piece – titled Entropa[ital] was commissioned by the Czech Republic on the occasion of its EU presidency. It was supposed to be executed by 27 artists from each of the EU member states, but it was later discovered in fact the entire installation was the work of contemporary Czech sculptor David Černý (in the picture above, standing in front of the piece).
Other parts of the work, which consists of snap-out parts like those used in modelling kits, each representing a EU member state through a stereotype, also caused concern. According to the Macedonian A1 television station, Slovakia also protested against its portrayal as a Hungarian sausage but found Prague’s apologies sufficient.
In the last few days, the Czech President and Vice Prime Minister officially apologised to Bulgaria and all the countries offended by the installation, but decided to keep the installation in place.
“We consider Entropa to be a piece of art. Nothing more, nothing less. I hope we can agree on this with the rest of the European family. We hope we will be able to laugh with you – not at you,” Alexander Vondra, Deputy Prime Minister for EU Affairs, said at the official launch of the art work on January 15.
Epicure
Kosovo
Kosovo Winemaking Badly Hit After Independence and Serbia’s Boycott
November 2009 | Kosovo’s total wine exports have decreased by more than half Full Story
Curiosity Chest
Kosovo
Kosovo: Dodona Theatre, A Symbol of Cultural Resistance
Dodona’s history goes way beyond the walls of its small yet celebrated theatre located in a Pristina neighbourhood which quickly took the name of the institution after its construction in 1992. Full Story
Useful Reads
Greece
In Sfakia: Passing Time in the Wilds of Crete (2008) | By Peter Trudgill
Crete has long been acknowledged as one of the most singular and unique parts of Greece. Its people keep a fierce hold on their traditions, customs and history. Practically a country of its own, this vast island looms over all others in Greece. Nevertheless, as In Sfakia author Peter Trudgill aptly notes in his preface, “some parts of Crete are more special than others, and Sfakia, on the remote south coast, is certainly one of those.” Full Story
Music
Macedonia
Macedonia: Esma Redžepova's Passion for Humanity
"A Gypsy from the city of Skopje", as she calls herself, Esma Redžepova has more than 40 years of singing and humanitarian efforts under her belt. Full Story
-
Photogalleries
-
A Perfect Shot
In Homo Urbanus Europeanus, exhibited May 9-24 in front of the National Theatre in Sofia, Jean-Marc Caracci presents his photographs of people in the urban environment of European capitals.
RED&WHITE SOFIA. On the 1st of March Bulgarians say goodbye to the winter. They buy each other red&white threads to carry around until they see a stork and spring can begin. Photography by Lode Desmet
BULGARIA D'OR: The Bulgarian countryside, patinated with the noble golden dust of the autumn. Photographs by Lode Desmet
360 degrees Bulgaria, an exhibition by photographer Alexandar Ivanov, is on display at the Sea Garden in Varna until August 28. It will be shown at Plovdiv’s Central Square from Sept 5.
The exhibition Photographs of a Trip Through Bulgaria by Hungarian photographer András Balla can be seen in Sofia's Hungarian Cultural Institute, at Aksakov 16 Street, until August 22
Instant Spring in Sofia | Photographs by Lode Desmet
Off-the-season Beauty of Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast | Photographs by Adelina Iliev
Bulgaria's Northern Black Sea Coast
Photographs by Albena Shkodrova
excellent smugs