Czechs apologise for 'offensive' artwork

BRUSSELS - A controversial artwork about national stereotypes commissioned by the Czech EU presidency is continuing to cause diplomatic ripples in Brussels, with new EU member Bulgaria remaining unamused.

The massive sculpture, marking the beginning of Prague's six-month tenure at the EU helm, was supposed to be a test of whether Europe can laugh at itself.

It plays to prejudices about member states, depicting France as being always "on strike," Spain as buried under concrete after a construction boom and Italy as a nation of crotch-grabbing footballers.

But the joke was also turned against the Czech government, after the artist hoodwinked officials. And nobody is laughing at the Brussels diplomatic mission of Bulgaria - depicted as a Turkish toilet.

Prague initially commissioned the piece on the understanding that each member state's stereotype would be made by a national artist of that country.

Instead, Czech artist David Cerny, in league with several other artists, kept the piece an entirely Czech-made affair, assigning a name for the supposed national artist.

Apologising for freedom of art

The revelation, which Prague deemed an "unpleasant surprise," compounded the Czech Republic's difficult task of protecting the freedom of artistic expression at the same time as apologising for causing offence.

"Art is freedom" intoned Czech deputy PM Alexandr Vondra at the official unveiling of the piece in the EU's council of ministers building on Thursday (15 January). "There is no place for censorship in Europe."

He then said sorry to any countries that may be insulted and particularly to Bulgaria, adding: "If you stand by your request to remove [the piece representing Bulgaria], of course we will certainly do that."

Mr Cerny himself also offered a litany of apologies - to the Czech prime minister, foreign minister and deputy prime minister and one specifically to Bulgaria.

"We seriously expected that it would be taken as joke," he said, reluctantly agreeing that if Bulgaria insists, "it is possible" to remove the Bulgarian bit, although he "would much rather have it as a whole thing."

For their part, the Bulgarians, who have lodged official complaints about the Turkish toilet affair, are still miffed.

"Yes, we keep insisting that the object be removed," the spokesperson for the Bulgarian mission to the EU told EUobserver

"It has nothing to do with the freedom of art. Come on! Bulgarian national dignity is at stake here," Betina Joteva said.

The Czech artists may also have to contend with other offended people. Danish artist Susan Malberg Albertsen is irritated that her name appeared as being responsible for Denmark's image (pieces of Lego).

The Czechs insist it was just a coincidence that her name was used. But she told Danish news agency Ritzau it was "very unpleasant and extremely cheeky."