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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Czech EU art stokes controversy | Czech EU art stokes controversy |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A new art installation going on display at the European Council building in Brussels has angered EU members with its lampoons of national stereotypes. | A new art installation going on display at the European Council building in Brussels has angered EU members with its lampoons of national stereotypes. |
| Entropa portrays Bulgaria as a toilet, Romania as a Dracula theme-park and France as a country on strike. | Entropa portrays Bulgaria as a toilet, Romania as a Dracula theme-park and France as a country on strike. |
| The Czech Republic, which holds the EU presidency, thought it had commissioned work from 27 European artists. | The Czech Republic, which holds the EU presidency, thought it had commissioned work from 27 European artists. |
| But it turned out to have been entirely completed by Czech artist David Cerny and two associates. | But it turned out to have been entirely completed by Czech artist David Cerny and two associates. |
| The eight-tonne mosaic is held together by snap-out plastic parts similar to those used in modelling kits. | The eight-tonne mosaic is held together by snap-out plastic parts similar to those used in modelling kits. |
| The Netherlands is shown as series of minarets submerged by a flood - a possible reference to the nation's simmering religious tensions. | The Netherlands is shown as series of minarets submerged by a flood - a possible reference to the nation's simmering religious tensions. |
| Germany is shown as a network of motorways vaguely resembling a swastika, while the UK - criticised by some for being one of EU's most eurosceptic members - is absent from Europe altogether. | Germany is shown as a network of motorways vaguely resembling a swastika, while the UK - criticised by some for being one of EU's most eurosceptic members - is absent from Europe altogether. |
| Raised eyebrows | Raised eyebrows |
| The 16-square-metre (172-square-foot) work was installed at the weekend to mark the start of the six-month Czech presidency of the EU. | The 16-square-metre (172-square-foot) work was installed at the weekend to mark the start of the six-month Czech presidency of the EU. |
| There has already been an angry reaction to the piece from Bulgaria, which has summoned the Czech ambassador to Sofia to explain. | There has already been an angry reaction to the piece from Bulgaria, which has summoned the Czech ambassador to Sofia to explain. |
| The three artists responsible for Entropa were led by David Cerny who, says the BBC's Rob Cameron in Prague, is the enfant terrible of the Czech art world. In pictures: Entropa installation class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2009/01/s_12.html">Mardell blog: But is it art? | |
| When his government commissioned him to create the installation, several eyebrows were raised, and they were not raised in vain, our correspondent adds. | When his government commissioned him to create the installation, several eyebrows were raised, and they were not raised in vain, our correspondent adds. |
| Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra said he was only informed on Monday that the installation was not the work of 27 European artists, but David Cerny and two colleagues. | Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra said he was only informed on Monday that the installation was not the work of 27 European artists, but David Cerny and two colleagues. |
| Mr Vondra condemned Mr Cerny and said the Czech EU presidency was considering what steps to take before Thursday's official launch. | Mr Vondra condemned Mr Cerny and said the Czech EU presidency was considering what steps to take before Thursday's official launch. |
| "An agreement of the office of the government with the artist clearly stated that this will be a common work of artists from 27 EU states," he said. | "An agreement of the office of the government with the artist clearly stated that this will be a common work of artists from 27 EU states," he said. |
| "The full responsibility for violating this assignment and this promise lies with David Cerny." | "The full responsibility for violating this assignment and this promise lies with David Cerny." |
| Mr Cerny, who presented Entropa to his government with a brochure describing each of the artwork's 27 supposed contributors from each member state, has apologised for misleading ministers, but not for the installation itself. | Mr Cerny, who presented Entropa to his government with a brochure describing each of the artwork's 27 supposed contributors from each member state, has apologised for misleading ministers, but not for the installation itself. |
| "We knew the truth would come out," said Mr Cerny. "But before that we wanted to find out if Europe is able to laugh at itself." | "We knew the truth would come out," said Mr Cerny. "But before that we wanted to find out if Europe is able to laugh at itself." |
| He added that Entropa "lampoons the socially activist art that balances on the verge between would-be controversial attacks on national character and undisturbing decoration of an official space". | He added that Entropa "lampoons the socially activist art that balances on the verge between would-be controversial attacks on national character and undisturbing decoration of an official space". |
| Mr Cerny first created a splash in the early 1990s when he painted a Soviet tank, a Second World War memorial in a Prague square, bright pink. | Mr Cerny first created a splash in the early 1990s when he painted a Soviet tank, a Second World War memorial in a Prague square, bright pink. |