NationStates Jolt Archive

When Colin Powell went to the U.N. to present his justification for war with Iraq, Picasso's Guernica:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/PicassoGuernica.jpg
was covered with blue curtains. this was the only copy of the original painting ever legitimately made, as authorized by Picasso himself.

My intro to theater professor told the class he recently went to the U.N. building, and when on the tour he asked the guide if they could see Guernica. She would not answer, but simply shook her head, and acted as if she had been struck. He took from this that Guernica was still covered. If so, I think it's about time the U.N. grew a fucking spine and uncovered it.

On a related topic, is good old lady justice still wearing curtains? (and a question to the mods, can I post a pic of lady justice with her uncovered breasts, or is that too "obscene"?)

Edit: link to the story (http://www.artistsnetwork.org/news8/news348.html)

From Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guernica_%28painting%29#Guernica_at_the_United_Nations):

A tapestry copy of Picasso's Guernica is displayed on the wall of the United Nations building in New York City, at the entrance to the Security Council room. It was placed there as a reminder of the horrors of war. Commissioned and donated by Nelson Rockefeller, it is not quite as monochromatic as the original, using several shades of brown. On February 5, 2003, a large blue curtain was placed to cover this work, so that it would not be visible in the background when Colin Powell and John Negroponte gave press conferences at the United Nations. On the following day, it was claimed that the curtain was placed there at the request of television news crews, who had complained that the wild lines and screaming figures made for a bad backdrop, and that a horse's hindquarters appeared just above the faces of any speakers. Diplomats, however, told journalists that the Bush Administration pressured UN officials to cover the tapestry, rather than have it in the background while Powell or other U.S. diplomats argued for war on Iraq.

Interesting. And telling.

You can't have warmongers actually exposed to what it is they're trying to foment.

*le sigh*

I'm the sure the oh so valid argument here is, 'we'd like to choose our background propaganda pleasethanks.' Unfortunately, Picasso didn't do a huge painting of big-breasted women holding submachine guns and joyfully stepping over the bodies of their dead enemies.

*le sigh*

I'm the sure the oh so valid argument here is, 'we'd like to choose our background propaganda pleasethanks.' Unfortunately, Picasso didn't do a huge painting of big-breasted women holding submachine guns and joyfully stepping over the bodies of their dead enemies.

OF course, if he did, they would have to cover her breasts. Can't have breasts.

so the guernica at the UN isnt covered, it was just covered that day?

OF course, if he did, they would have to cover her breasts. Can't have breasts.

Sure you can, you just can't show them.

OF course, if he did, they would have to cover her breasts. Can't have breasts.

But... /looks down at chest... This might be a problem. Can I get an exception?

The current administration has... issues...

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41233000/jpg/_41233809_ap_ashcroft203.jpg

The curtains have now been removed - back in '05 :)

The current administration has... issues...

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41233000/jpg/_41233809_ap_ashcroft203.jpg

The curtains have now been removed - back in '05 :)

zomg boobz!
*reports*
j/k

how is guernica a mixed messgae? 'war is horrifying and it is nasty for people and animals to exerience it'... there's no mix there. i think it should read 'disagreeadble message'. silly people.

zomg boobz!
*reports*
j/k

I always knew you were... sensitive ;)

Very interesting, I did not know this.

Sad that the americans are the ones responsible for covering up the greatest piece of anti-war art from one of the worlds greatest artists so that they can start their own campaign of bombing women and children.

Sad that the americans are the ones responsible for covering up the greatest piece of anti-war art from one of the worlds greatest artists so that they can start their own campaign of bombing women and children.

When profit is to be made, you can bet your last penny that American's will be there somehow, somewhere. Along with every other nation capable of projecting power there.

Kind of detracts from the whole "America the pure" image doesn't it?

Is there a picture of it covered? No.

Don't believe crap with no evidence.

Shocking. No, not really. It isn't surprising that Bush & Co. wouldn't want people making any uncomfortable comparisons between what happened at Guernica and what is going on currently with Bush's wars. Some more people might actually grow a brain and realize the kind of crap that our president pulls.

Is there a picture of it covered? No.

Don't believe crap with no evidence.

I have some evidence, a first hand account. So if we aren't going to be accusing my theater teacher of lying, then what possible other reason could she have had for refusing to show it to them, and for being so flabbergasted at the mention of it?

Of course if we had a picture of the copy of Guernica at the UN uncovered, dated after 2003, I would be reassured, though still pissed that it was covered in the first place.

edit: Or were you denying it was ever covered at all?

As a war hawk I am deeply offended by Geroge Bush's pressure to cover Guernica. Why do we elect such pussies?

The U.N. should never have allowed itself to be used in such a manner.

.

Don't believe crap with no evidence.

O if only they'd listened to those words back in 2003....

On the following day, it was claimed that the curtain was placed there at the request of television news crews, who had complained that the wild lines and screaming figures made for a bad backdrop, and that a horse's hindquarters appeared just above the faces of any speakers.
So...erm...what's wrong with that? :p

It looked like a mass destructive orgy of beastiality.

The U.N. began covering the tapestry last week after getting nervous that Hans Blix's head would end up on TV next to a screaming horse head.

Shocking. No, not really. It isn't surprising that Bush & Co. wouldn't want people making any uncomfortable comparisons between what happened at Guernica and what is going on currently with Bush's wars. Some more people might actually grow a brain and realize the kind of crap that our president pulls.

Meh, I have no faith in Bush & Co, haven't had any for a long time. I'm just surprised that he's still getting away with the things he does...

IMO, Picasso is one of the worst artists in history, but that's just me. It still is art.

*le sigh*

I'm the sure the oh so valid argument here is, 'we'd like to choose our background propaganda pleasethanks.' Unfortunately, Picasso didn't do a huge painting of big-breasted women holding submachine guns and joyfully stepping over the bodies of their dead enemies.

Fuck. That painting would rock.

IMO, Picasso is one of the worst artists in history, but that's just me. It still is art.

Yeah, just crappy art.

*is a heretic*