- Title: SPAIN: Israeli embassy protests against Spanish art piece
- Date: 19th February 2010
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (FEBRUARY 18, 2010) (REUTERS) ADN GALLERY STAND AT ARCO FAIR IN MADRID STATUE CALLED "STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN" MADE OF JEWISH RABBI STANDING ON TOP OF CATHOLIC PRIEST AND MUSLIM MAN PRAYING CLOSE UP OF CATHOLIC PRIEST CLOSE UP OF MUSLIM MAN PRAYING / STATUE RABBI CLOSE UP OF HANDS OF PRIEST CLOSE UP OF MUSLIM MAN PRAYING CLOSE UP OF HOLY BIBLE ARTIST AND CREATOR OF STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN EUGENIO MERINO TALKING WITH PEOPLE CLOSE UP OF EUGENIO MERINO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARTIST, EUGENIO MERINO SAYING: "I don't really like this. I think that, in the end, an art piece can be distorted because of things like that. There is an official statement which criticises some things that actually aren't there because of the reasons they give." VISITORS PASSING BY ADN STAND CLOSE UP OF WOMAN WATCHING VISITORS NEARING THE STATUE CLOSE UP OF GIRLS WATCHING THE STATUE GIRLS TAKING A PICTURE OF THE STATUE VISITORS AROUND THE STATUE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VISITOR, ROSA SAYING: "I think he created it for that reason, controversy. It is a bit strange that he represents these three religions without being controversial. I think the artist's goal is to make a name for himself." VISITORS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS STATUE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VISITOR, CARMEN SAYING: "I think it is unnecessary, because he uses a very controversial issue. It kind of gives a wrong understanding which doesn't correspond to reality and which can make people who don't have a deep knowledge about this kind of art piece and clear concepts about the different religions, feel offended without any reason and for free." MENORAH ON TOP OF UZI CLOSE UP OF UZI-MENORAH VISITORS TAKING PICTURES
- Embargoed: 6th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA6G0MEWOBY186E645WI8D1PIR1
- Story Text: The statue of a rabbi standing upon a kneeling muslim and praying catholic priest plus a menorah linked to a UZI weapon caused controversy at the 29th contemporary art fair ARCO in Madrid.
The Israeli embassy made an official protest on Wednesday (February 17), saying that two art pieces presented by Spanish artist Eugenio Merino were offensive to the Israeli and the jewish culture.
But the artist, who is no stranger to polemic, said he didn't like having so many eyes on him and never thought about the offence the statue entitled "Stairway to Heaven" might cause before the official statement was made by the embassy.
"I don't really like this. I think that, in the end, an art piece can be distorted because of things like these. There is an official statement which criticises some things that actually aren't there because of the reasons they give," Merino said, adding that he had felt surprised after hearing about the statement.
Many people were visiting the famous exhibition, but the ADN gallery -- the one promoting the artist's work -- was more than crowded, and not everybody seemed to share Merino's opinion.
"I think he created it for that reason, controversy. It is a bit strange that he represents these three religions without being controversial. I think the artist's goal is to make a name for himself," a visitor called Rosa told Reuters.
And some were even more negative.
"I think it is unnecessary, because he uses a very controversial issue. It kind of gives a wrong understanding which doesn't correspond to reality and which can make people who don't have a deep knowledge about this kind of art piece and clear concepts about the different religions feel offended without any reason and for free," Carmen, another visitor said.
One of the pieces was sold on Wednesday (February 17) for 45.000 euro, according to local media.
Some of his elder work from 2007 also brought Merino controversy, among them was an art piece showing Bin Laden dressed up as "Saturday Night Fever's" main character Tony Manero entitled "Still Staying Alive" or a drawing showing Disney character Aladdin with dynamite around his waist called "Suicidal".
The artist also presented his work at ARCO 2008 and 2009.
Every winter Madrid becomes the capital for happening art, with a program covering the latest international tendencies with works from around three thousand artists brought by over 200 galleries.
This year, the 29th edition of ARCO has Los Angeles artist as special guests and is showcasing a cross section of art from one of the cities which sets the guidelines for contemporary art. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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