Cerny "Hoax" Sculpture

[Biomorph]

Long article in the NY Times this AM, and if you go to David Cerny on the web you'll see stories on a sculpture that has the European Union in an uproar. Seems the EU has a rotating presidency, and it's the Czech Republic's turn. So the piece--a 172 square foot, 8 ton job containing reliefs in the shape of the countries--was given to a Czech sculptor but supposed to incorporate works of 27 artists from the EU members. In fact, it apparently was the work of Cerny and a few buddies, and the elements are insulting, maybe depending on your viewpoint. According to Times [their pic too small to see detail], Bulgaria=a series of hole in the floor toilets; Netherlands under water with a few minarets showing; Luxemborg=a lump of gold with a for sale sign; France=on strike; etc., etc.
Apparently he's offered to give back the $800,000 plus he received, but bemoans Europe's inability to laugh at itself. The Bulgarians in particular are not amused.
I'm all for artistic freedom, but in context this appears at the least a pretty lousy breach of implicit understanding, not to say obvious and heavy handed humor. If it were clever satire, maybe it would pass. I suspect that many governments and organizations commissioning public sculpture are always worried that they'll be made fools of, aesthetically, financially, or otherwise, and this type of thing won't encourage commissions, particularly given the state of public finances these days.

[GlennT]

The work "Entropa" seems like a combination of Cheespaw's aesthetic, merlion's social commentary installations approach, my sense of daring when addressing sensative issues, StevenW's sense of humor, Ries knack for finagalling a public commissions, and jOe's lunchbox.

[StevenW]

I read that yesterday, I think what they are all really mad about is that it was supposed to be done by a group of 28 (If I recall correctly) artists representing each one of the EU countries and that it was discovered only one guy did it all..

The humor I thought was spot on in the most derogatory and refreshingly unpolitically correct innuendo possible.

The guy should get a medal and double what he was paid.. O'Course, with art czars being all the rage and up and commers in the likeness of Goebbels (Germany's first Art Minister) these kinds of things will be less-likely to materialize I bet..

[Biomorph]

I think what they're mad about is the content and getting tricked into payment for a commentary when they wanted a banal EU banner---but one they paid for. StevenW is right to some degree in the matter of the number of artists that were to be represented---the lesson here or in securities fraud or in any number of scams is never get in a position where they can get you on a specific misrepresentation. Keep it fuzzy.
As to the substance, I can get equally good commentary and a good deal more wit from Letterman. The sculpture I'd give a B+.

[craigktx]

you have to like the humor with this one.

i bet the other artist would have walked away from this one.

drunk soccer plays are the best part.:D