Jan 15 | '09 | Entropa - David Černý
Entropa – Europe in the Eyes of "Artists of 27 Member Countries" of the European Union
The gigantic sculpture, entitled “Entropa”, was officially revealed in the Brussels’ Justus Lipsius building, the seat of the European Union, after several days of controversy. Its author, Czech renowned artist David Černý, caused an international haux of unexpected dimensions when it came out that the work which was – according to official statements – planned as a joint project created by 27 artists originating from all membership countries, is in fact a solo project by David Černý. Already the preliminary reactions arriving from both the public and the politicians were contradictory. The artist aimed to feature the 27 EU states via established stereotypes of the given countries, which seem to be firmly embedded in the subconscious of the rest of the EU. The sculpture was thus to point out at the barriers in European integration and communication precisely along the lines of the motto of the Czech government for the period of its EU chairmanship: “Europe without Barriers”. The work does not pull any punches, and embittered, sometimes even outraged responses of several politicians of the “offended” countries were fast to come. The first to react was Bulgaria, protesting against featuring its country as a Turkish lavatory. At first, the Czech chairmanship via Alexandr Vondra belittled the diplomatic rupture by proclamation that Europe must find courage to look at itself with a sense of irony. However, when European journalists began searching for the names from the list of the 27 national artists – the co-authors of the sculpture – they found out that the names published in the official brochure accompanying the opening are faux, including the CVs and awards. David Černý published a proclamation on his web site where he apologizes to Czech politicians. He, however, at the same time advocates his work as a sovereign contribution to the discussion on various issues as European integration, national identity, role of art in the national self-reflection and others.
