[spectre] what happened at POLITIK-UM in prague?

[Andreas Broeckmann]

dear ludvik, dear others,
the POLITIK-UM show opened in prague this week and it was reported in the
newspapers here in germany that the work of the czeck group Pode Bal was
actually removed from the castle courtyard at the opening.
can anybody report what happened, and why this work in particular was removed?
best regards,
-a


>Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 20:28:51 +0200
>POLITIK-UM / New Engagement
>from May 15th - June 10th, 2002


>The preparations for the exhibition were radically jolted on May 26 when
>the organizers were informed that the Administrative Office of the
>President of the Czech Republic at Prague Castle would not allow the
>exterior projects to be installed in the Castle courtyard area. The work
>and organization of these projects - and the exhibition - began in October
>2001. Although this last minute decision only affects a minority of the
>overall works to be shown in the exhibition (6 exterior installations, 25
>interior works), the exterior projects are an essential part of the entire
>exhibition: they symbolize and realize open public dialogue as the main
>intention of political art. Public dialogue is a process full of risk,
>mistakes and bias, however it develops on its own accord free of official
>sanctions, patronage and authoritative limitations. The participating
>artists and exhibition organizers respect the right of the Prague Castle
>Administration to prohibit those activities which they do not wish to take
>place in the site under their direct management.  At the same time
>however, they would like to express their view that this intervention only
>proves that public dialogue, as a mean of a dynamic development of an open
>society, is still far from being natural in this country, which incites
>and inspires them to continue in their efforts of artistic and civic
>engagement.