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Tue, Feb 07 2012
Czech artist David Cerny banned from Plovdiv city hall
Plovdiv mayor Slavcho Atanasov
Photo: Anelia Nikolova
Plovdiv mayor Slavcho Atanasov decided to take the side of ultra-nationalist Ataka party and ban Czech artist David Cerny from exhibiting his work in Plovdiv on October 10 2009, local media said.
Cerny was invited to attend the opening of a modern art exhibition entitled "European art - 20 years after the Iron Curtain" which is to be held in a building owned by the city hall.
"I forbid this person [Cerny] to be allowed in the premises of any of buildings owned by the city hall," Atanasov said on October 6. "In no way I can accept the insult which this artist caused to Bulgaria and that's why he is not welcomed in the city," he said.
Cerny could be welcomed in a coffee shop or some other place in Plovdiv, but not in buildings owned by the city hall, Atanasov said.
Cerny's visit, at the invitation of the exhibition's curator Emil Mirazchiev, was opposed by Ataka city councillors who issued a declaration condemning the Czech artist.
They called on Atanasov to forbid Cerny's participation in the exhibition and asked Plovdiv's residents to protest against "the visit of a person who has publicly disgraced Bulgaria," Bulgarian news agency BTA said.
The Cerny controversry erupted in January 2009 when an art installation he created was displayed at the European Commission building in Brussels. It depicted Bulgaria as a collection of Turkish toilets, which enraged many in Bulgaria while others took it as satirical and ironic, although not very original.
After several days of heated reactions from Bulgaria, the artwork was partially hidden behind a black cloth. It is this black cloth which Cerny is expected to display in Plovdiv on October 10 2009.
Following Ataka's protest against Cerny, a group of Bulgarian artists urged Atanasov not to take sides in the issue and to show more tolerance and wisdom than some of Bulgaria's politicians. The artists recalled the communist-era times when special committees decided what could and could not be exhibited in Plovdiv.
Cerny was invited to attend the opening of a modern art exhibition entitled "European art - 20 years after the Iron Curtain" which is to be held in a building owned by the city hall.
"I forbid this person [Cerny] to be allowed in the premises of any of buildings owned by the city hall," Atanasov said on October 6. "In no way I can accept the insult which this artist caused to Bulgaria and that's why he is not welcomed in the city," he said.
Cerny could be welcomed in a coffee shop or some other place in Plovdiv, but not in buildings owned by the city hall, Atanasov said.
Cerny's visit, at the invitation of the exhibition's curator Emil Mirazchiev, was opposed by Ataka city councillors who issued a declaration condemning the Czech artist.
They called on Atanasov to forbid Cerny's participation in the exhibition and asked Plovdiv's residents to protest against "the visit of a person who has publicly disgraced Bulgaria," Bulgarian news agency BTA said.
The Cerny controversry erupted in January 2009 when an art installation he created was displayed at the European Commission building in Brussels. It depicted Bulgaria as a collection of Turkish toilets, which enraged many in Bulgaria while others took it as satirical and ironic, although not very original.
After several days of heated reactions from Bulgaria, the artwork was partially hidden behind a black cloth. It is this black cloth which Cerny is expected to display in Plovdiv on October 10 2009.
Following Ataka's protest against Cerny, a group of Bulgarian artists urged Atanasov not to take sides in the issue and to show more tolerance and wisdom than some of Bulgaria's politicians. The artists recalled the communist-era times when special committees decided what could and could not be exhibited in Plovdiv.
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David Cerny is not coming to Bulgaria, feels offended
The controversial Czech artist felt offended by the reaction of Plovidv mayor who banned him from a city art gallery.
Union of Bulgarian Artists offers David Cerny a hand
Cultural process should be decided between art and public, not between art and those in power, UBА said after Cerny was banned from a city gallery in Plovdiv.
Policemen will prevent David Cerny entering Plovdiv's city hall gallery
Plovdiv mayor Slavcho Atanassov will not compromise but is ready to offer Cerny a tour of the city’s historical sites
Ataka opposes David Cerny's visit to Plovdiv
The artist, whose satirical artwork depicted Bulgaria as a Turkish toilet, is scheduled to attend the opening of an exhibition in Plovdiv
Bulgarian socialist youth organisation sends David Cerny toilet bowl
Martin Klepetko, the Czech ambassador to Bulgaria, has been presented with a toilet bowl by the Discussion Club for Social and Local Policy, the youth wing of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Focus news agency reported on January 16 2009.
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"This is the EU, we have the right to call each other toilets if we want to, because we are all brothers together now, and that's what brothers do."
Not so. There are laws against speech in the EU, US and every other place. Speech is regulated.
I support the EU, but lets be honest: we are not brothers. The idea behind the Strasbourg accord in '49 was to intertwine European countries enough, so that we'll stop killing each other, not to enter into some sort of incestuous relations...
[...]
Read the full comment /> Trust me, if someone decides to kill most Brits, for example, I don't quite know if I have particular feelings about it, one way or another... brother;)
What a genius! If there was ever a way to ensure that Cerny comes to Plovdiv and sticks a controversial exhibition right under the nose of City Hall, this is it.
Cerny benefits from the publicity, Plovdiv beneifts, local coffee shop owners benefit. The guy's a freaking genius. Seriously. Either that or next in line to the throne of Kazachstan.
This is the EU, we have the right to call each other toilets if we want to, because we are all brothers together now, and that's what brothers do.
Way to go, Atanasov! You only strengthen Cerny's arguments about Bulgaria and show the country's inferiority complex - hiding art - fear of criticism - the people of Plovdiv should be just as angry with Atanasov as they are with people viewing Bulgaria at a toilet. But what will you do about it, Plovdiv?
"It would imply that you can laugh to this kind of stupid things."
Many Bulgarians do, and many would even agree with the depiction. Perhaps in another 20-40 years we would be confident enough to laugh it off, and hopefully western (notably UKs) papers will slow down with the constant put downs and insults of BG for internal political milage, but as of yet, until we still feel under constant barrage, I am not ready to take this laughing.
Honestly it's a bit like expecting a battered wife to laugh about bitch [...]
Read the full comment slapping... BG is something of EU media's punching bag so I am not laughing anymore.
"Why? That would imply that we're embarrassed by his portrayal."
It would imply that you can laugh to this kind of stupid things.
"If they would have just been silent nobody would not even remember whole thing."
Why? That would imply that we're embarrassed by his portrayal. Without speaking for all Bulgarians, I am not - his chosen depiction reflects only his opaque personality and the inherent European racism, and nothing else.
If you think that your country is a toilet, then you are sadly little more than the typical Bulgarian finding themselves on the wrong end of the new economic divide....
And I have to add that Bulgarians made it much bigger by themselves. If they would have just been silent nobody would not even remember whole thing.
We took it like humor how he described our country, not any better than what he made Bulgaria. Even when it happened I said that bulgarians seem to take this too seriously :P
Jon
don't be silly. Atanasov is making a point, as he should - he has no legal power to keep anyone out, although I can't see why Cerny would insist on hanging out at Plovdiv's city hall, especially after what he's done ... it's all polemical..
And by the way Jon Mills, this czech stoner guy has been banned in numerous EU Countries such as Belgium, Great Britain, Italy and Poland.. seems only France hasn't put a ban on his face. So don't give me this bull about how "uncivilized" this decision is.
Besides Cerny's work is aimed ONLY at discriminating and offending people, it has NO political message whatsoever. So banning him is like banning porn or something in a really bad taste.
His portrayal of Bulgaria as a toilet is as racist as putting a damn [...]
Read the full comment swastika on Germany. The stereotypes about Bulgaria in the Czech Republic include us being bastards from the Ottoman empire which explains why he chose the TURKISH toilet, because in the description of his work he wrote "Turkish toilet", he didn't just write "old style hole on the floor toilet", he wrote TURKISH toilet.
The fact that the far right party is happy about the decision is just unfortunate.. it is unfortunate that such a party even exists.
Atanasov is a rare example of a Bulgarian who isn't OK with everyone dumping on us.
Good for him!
Slavcho Atanasov is dumb. We are trying to get this guy to come to Bulgaria so we can capture and torture him. We should give the highest medal to whoever kills Cerny.. well at least I am going to give all my savings to whoever does the job. We should also harass and beat up any czech people who are in Bulgaria.
Well said Jon!
Atanasov is a disgrace. I expect much better from public officials. Since when did the Mayor of Plovdiv get the right to exclude an EU citizen from public buildings because he does not like his art? Don't forget these buildings are 'public' and not 'owned'by the city. They are held in trust by the obshtina for and on behalf of all citizens (including those from the EU who also help pay for them).
If EU citizens are not welcome in Plovdiv, please make this clear, so they can take their jobs, companies and money elsewhere.
[...]
Read the full comment />
I his remarks are aimed at one person, will this decision be repeated on the basis of Religion, Political Belief, Social Status, artistic values, or any other element he may personally not like?
And this is from the man who vanished from the face of the earth for months after being elected and reappeared when the snow left Plovdiv!!
If he wishes to follow the dictates of ATAKA, he should do the honourable thing and declare his change of political views.
Lame Slavcho!
And taking down the earlier post was lame as well.