NationStates Jolt Archive

There's a huge controversy about a Czech artist who was commissioned to create an artwork depicting the EU...

This article (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5517736.ece)shows what he came up with.
Personally, I like it, lots. It's funny, it's ironic, and it's not even an eyesore. However, some people apparently feel insulted about it. Even the Czech government wants it removed apparently.

So, EU members on NSG, what do you think? Insulting? Funny? Stupid?

Edit: Btw, what the pics on the article don't show is Britain. It's an empty space on the piece ;)

It'd be fine in a different context (say, an art gallery), but here it's just not appropriate.

Friggin hilarious, from where I stand.

Funny.

It'd be fine in a different context (say, an art gallery), but here it's just not appropriate.

Why, though?
I think if anybody needs to get a bit of irony, it's politicians. They're way, way, way too full of themselves most of the time...

Brilliant, and offensive, I love it!

Why, though?
I think if anybody needs to get a bit of irony, it's politicians. They're way, way, way too full of themselves most of the time...

Never more so than in Brussels.

Why, though?
I think if anybody needs to get a bit of irony, it's politicians. They're way, way, way too full of themselves most of the time...

Because too many people are incapable of humor. :/

Funny and stupid.

Lol, great, but Britain isn't a country, Cabra.

Lol, great, but Britain isn't a country, Cabra.

Great Britain, I thought, was a synonym for the UK.
If I'm mistaken, please excuse my undiplomatic language...

Because too many people are incapable of humor. :/

Yes, you've got a point... you can't really teach humour to people by showing them funny things. The world would be a better place if you could.

I hope they don't remove it. Its pretty funny. :)

There's a huge controversy about a Czech artist who was commissioned to create an artwork depicting the EU...

This article (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5517736.ece)shows what he came up with.
Personally, I like it, lots. It's funny, it's ironic, and it's not even an eyesore. However, some people apparently feel insulted about it. Even the Czech government wants it removed apparently.

So, EU members on NSG, what do you think? Insulting? Funny? Stupid?

Edit: Btw, what the pics on the article don't show is Britain. It's an empty space on the piece ;)

Very funny and irreverent. I just love it!

Great Britain, I thought, was a synonym for the UK.
If I'm mistaken, please excuse my undiplomatic language...

It's a common mistake, but Great Britain is an island, where only 3 of the 4 countries that make up the UK reside. The other being Northern Ireland. You should know this.

I can't see it. I can't make anything out in that tiny picture in the article.

Daily mail has better photo's if you remember to wash your hands afterwards (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1114284/Artist-says-duped-Czech-government-bizarre-EU-sculpture-showing-Bulgaria-toilet-leaving-Britain-out.html)

I found it funny though clearly Germany should of involved Turks somehow and Italy I just don't get

It's a common mistake, but Great Britain is an island, where only 3 of the 4 countries that make up the UK reside. The other being Northern Ireland. You should know this.

I think an appropriate politically correct punishment should be made such as asking her nicely to take some anger management classes offering a bah bah rainbow sheep nursery rhyme CD maybe >.>

It's a common mistake, but Great Britain is an island, where only 3 of the 4 countries that make up the UK reside. The other being Northern Ireland. You should know this.

No one cares.

I love some of the comments from citizens of 'Britain' (their usage, not mine):

"Of course, this senseless piece of 'art' was probably constructed with invisible Britain's cash. We do donate more to the cause than just about anyone else in Europe. Time to disappear from the EU altogether, I think."

"So now you know what the EU really think of us and it appears they would like us literally wiped off the face of map. For those that laugh then remember - Many a true word is spoken in jest."


Booohoooooo I can't take a joke omg!

I love some of the comments from citizens of 'Britain' (their usage, not mine):

"Of course, this senseless piece of 'art' was probably constructed with invisible Britain's cash. We do donate more to the cause than just about anyone else in Europe. Time to disappear from the EU altogether, I think."

"So now you know what the EU really think of us and it appears they would like us literally wiped off the face of map. For those that laugh then remember - Many a true word is spoken in jest."


Booohoooooo I can't take a joke omg!

Daily Mail readers are morons; in other news, sky still blue?

"So now you know what the EU really think of us and it appears they would like us literally wiped off the face of map. For those that laugh then remember - Many a true word is spoken in jest."

I too support wiping Britain off the face of the Earth :p

Just a side note, a decent part of the reason the politicians are pissed is when they commissioned the art the artist agreed to the condition that each country's piece of art was made jointly between him and an artist from that country.

Then once they'd given him the grant he ignored what he'd agreed to and did it all himself.

I see it now, thank you.

...

And I totally don't get why it's offensive or anything. It doesn't even make much sense.

I love some of the comments from citizens of 'Britain' (their usage, not mine):

"Of course, this senseless piece of 'art' was probably constructed with invisible Britain's cash. We do donate more to the cause than just about anyone else in Europe. Time to disappear from the EU altogether, I think."

"So now you know what the EU really think of us and it appears they would like us literally wiped off the face of map. For those that laugh then remember - Many a true word is spoken in jest."


Booohoooooo I can't take a joke omg!

*lol
This from the nation who thinks they've invented humour and above all irony... for shame!

Booohoooooo I can't take a joke omg!

To be fair, loads of Europeans are saying that sort of whiny "Why did you insult me?" crap as well.

I see it now, thank you.

...

And I totally don't get why it's offensive or anything. It doesn't even make much sense.

I think the main ones who are pissed are the Bulgarians who had their country depicted as a toilet, with various other countries less than impressed.

The other people annoyed are the Czechs because the artist lied abot how he was going to produce the artwork to get funding, caused them some diplomatic irritations, and mucked up their little party build up to taking over the EU presidency.

No one cares.

Maybe not narrow minded Canadians, but the English, Welsh, Scots and especially the Northern Irish do care.

I think the main ones who are pissed are the Bulgarians who had their country depicted as a toilet, with various other countries less than impressed.

The other people annoyed are the Czechs because the artist lied abot how he was going to produce the artwork to get funding, caused them some diplomatic irritations, and mucked up their little party build up to taking over the EU presidency.

But it's funny, and obviously a joke on stereotypes.

I think the main ones who are pissed are the Bulgarians who had their country depicted as a toilet, with various other countries less than impressed.

The other people annoyed are the Czechs because the artist lied abot how he was going to produce the artwork to get funding, caused them some diplomatic irritations, and mucked up their little party build up to taking over the EU presidency.
Oh, okay. That makes more sense. Thank you.

I think the main ones who are pissed are the Bulgarians who had their country depicted as a toilet, with various other countries less than impressed.

The other people annoyed are the Czechs because the artist lied abot how he was going to produce the artwork to get funding, caused them some diplomatic irritations, and mucked up their little party build up to taking over the EU presidency.

Considering that their country compares the EU with an expanding Soviet Union, you'd think they'd be happy about the results...

This reminds me of the 2012 olympics logo fiasco....

"Here's 400,000 pounds for the logo!" "Thanks, here's the logo of bart and lisa doing something siblings are NOT supposed to do!"

This reminds me of the 2012 olympics logo fiasco....

"Here's 400,000 pounds for the logo!" "Thanks, here's the logo of bart and lisa doing something siblings are NOT supposed to do!"

That's not quite how it went, or what the logo looks like.

That's not quite how it went, or what the logo looks like.

I wish you were correct. I really do.

But it's funny, and obviously a joke on stereotypes.

Some of them are funny. Most in a way that other people would find funny rather than the states themselves. The Bulgarians I've heard are really, really pissed about it though. The Czech's are aswell. Iirc I don't think many other countries are really bothered much.

I wish you were correct. I really do.

The logo's crap, but it doesn't look like the Simpson kids getting intimate.

I see it now, thank you.

...

And I totally don't get why it's offensive or anything. It doesn't even make much sense.

Well you have to work it out for some of them, but the captions under the pictures in the article explain some of them, for instance:

"The EU started to smell a rat when Bulgaria was depicted as a Turkish lavatory"

No one cares.

I have to say, this is ironic from someone who can get insanely pissy about someone else using the word American to describe someone form the USA.

Some of them are good. I don't get the Bulgarian one though, and the Irish one was shite. Surely theres been enough drunken eejits on a weekend over there for them to come up with something involving spuds, drink, and some gobshite starting a fight with a lampost.....

*lol
This from the nation who thinks they've invented humour and above all irony... for shame!

Correction, this coming from a few pissy daily mail readers.

Also note that the artist is British himself.

I hope they keep it for the public display.

I laughed perhaps unsurprisingly the Bulgarians are really pissed that thier country is represented as a toilet, I was watching a news broadcast and the Bulgarian EU representaive looked like she was ablout to burst a blood vessel.

Some of them are good. I don't get the Bulgarian one though, and the Irish one was shite. Surely theres been enough drunken eejits on a weekend over there for them to come up with something involving spuds, drink, and some gobshite starting a fight with a lampost.....

Just read a thread on boards.ie about it, where people are complaining about the Irish one... "it's not even offensive, ffs! Everybody else gets offended but us! What's up with that???"

Also note that the artist is British himself.

He is? With a name like Cerny, I wouldn't have thought so...

Just read a thread on boards.ie about it, where people are complaining about the Irish one... "it's not even offensive, ffs! Everybody else gets offended but us! What's up with that???"

Wait.... we're getting offended that ours wasn't offensive? :tongue:

Some of the other countries are fun as well... Sweden is an IKEA package, Denmark is made from Lego, Spain is made from building concrete, Poland is a bunch of Catholic priests hoisting a gay rainbow-flag...

Some of them I don't really get, though. What's with Austria and the nuclear cooling towers? I thought they had no nuclear power stations?
And what's with Portugal and the beef?

Wait.... we're getting offended that ours wasn't offensive? :tongue:

Yep.
That guy didn't have the decency to offend us the way he offended everybody else. An outrage!

It'd be fine in a different context (say, an art gallery), but here it's just not appropriate.

This. As independent art it's fine. As official statement, it is not. Especially when there is fraud involved.

saw it on the news last night, fooking hilarious :tongue:

i heard a fantastic quote from a Bulgarian spokesperson: "it is not good when our country is covered with Turkish toilets" :P

Brilliant, and offensive, I love it!

Maybe not the finest art around, still quite not bad. I liked the Italy-shaped football pitch, with the Azzurri copulating with footballs.

Wait.... we're getting offended that ours wasn't offensive? :tongue:


Yep, its a fucken disgrace. Tons of material and all we get is a hairy set of Uileann pipes. Laziness, if ye ask me.

Meh, I don't like it. Depicting Bulgaria as a Turkish toilet, but Italy as a football pitch seems a bit unfair to me. Some of the pieces seem to be quite harsh in their humour, others gentle, and some don't seem to mock the country at all. As it stands there seems be a be huge bias between the pieces and I can see why some states would complain. Though the Dutch one did make me laugh.

It's a funny installation and needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

I wonder whether the cars on the Autobahn rotate?

I'm not european. I laughed a lot.

It's a common mistake, but Great Britain is an island, where only 3 of the 4 countries that make up the UK reside. The other being Northern Ireland. You should know this.

Then, why do we use more Great-Britain than United Kingdom?

Some of the other countries are fun as well... Sweden is an IKEA package, Denmark is made from Lego, Spain is made from building concrete, Poland is a bunch of Catholic priests hoisting a gay rainbow-flag...

Some of them I don't really get, though. What's with Austria and the nuclear cooling towers? I thought they had no nuclear power stations?
And what's with Portugal and the beef?

What the hell's with Finland?

Then, why do we use more Great-Britain than United Kingdom?

We don't.

We don't.

I feel sorry for Berwick-upon-Tweed personally.

"Luxembourg is a tiny lump of gold with a “For Sale” sign "

Awesome.

Absolutely fucking hilarious. Also completely inappropriate, given the context. In a US context, the President shouldn't crack Mexican jokes at a NAFTA meeting. Unless he wanted to ensure that NAFTA wouldn't survive.

"The Netherlands was depicted under water with only the tops of minarets visible."

Heh!

Clearly those who don't like it are lowbrow philistines who need to accept and appreciate the edgy intellect of the artiste. Really, why does the EU need to COMMISSION artwork? Isn't the EU the greatest government imaginable, and thus able to inspire artistic greatness without the need for obsolete capitalistic incentives like commissions? :p

Glad to see some in Europe still have a sense of humor.

I love some of the comments from citizens of 'Britain' (their usage, not mine):

"Of course, this senseless piece of 'art' was probably constructed with invisible Britain's cash. We do donate more to the cause than just about anyone else in Europe. Time to disappear from the EU altogether, I think."

"So now you know what the EU really think of us and it appears they would like us literally wiped off the face of map. For those that laugh then remember - Many a true word is spoken in jest."


Booohoooooo I can't take a joke omg!

lol. maybe he just couldn't find anything to tease the UK about.

But on top of your money the rest of the EU wants your natural gas the next time Russia shuts down the pipes.

We don't.

We, Finns.

It's a funny installation and needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

I wonder whether the cars on the Autobahn rotate?

They do. Those black strips are little conveyor belts.

lol. maybe he just couldn't find anything to tease the UK about.

But on top of your money the rest of the EU wants your natural gas the next time Russia shuts down the pipes.

No, I think he knew exactly what he was doing there. ;)
And he seems to have hit the nail on the head with it.

"Cerny’s installation is a giant Airfix-style kit with the pieces representing all of the EU member states – except Britain because the sculptor claims the country has no interest in being part of Europe. France is represented by a banner that reads “Strike!”, while Romania is an oversized Dracula theme park. Luxembourg is a tiny lump of gold with a “For Sale” sign and the Netherlands is depicted entirely submerged by water apart from minarets from the nation’s mosques. Sweden is an Ikea flat pack and Lithuania has three statues urinating on Russia. Slovakia is also thought to have made a complaint about the way it has been portrayed – as a wrapped up corpse."

I'm just an American hillbilly who doesn't know much about art, but I thought it was pretty funny, and fairly accurate, from what I've heard about Europe. I also thought this was the best comment so far:

Clearly those who don't like it are lowbrow philistines who need to accept and appreciate the edgy intellect of the artiste. Really, why does the EU need to COMMISSION artwork? Isn't the EU the greatest government imaginable, and thus able to inspire artistic greatness without the need for opsolete capitalistic incentives like commissions? :p