Black's work in Brussels attacks President Klaus

Prague - The artistic work of sculptor David Černý, which the Czech Republic is dedicating to the European Union as part of its presidency, and which is to adorn the building of the Council of Ministers in Brussels, attacks President Václav Klaus. This is reported by Lidové noviny (LN) citing documentation for the project. Černý, along with other artists, created a giant puzzle of European countries, in which the Czech Republic is depicted as a blue landscape captivated by the current head of state, LN writes. The long-awaited and previously secret project, costing 12 million crowns, will be ceremoniously presented in Brussels on Monday.
    Each of the 27 artists was to express their idea of their home country. This resulted in a puzzle that depicts an original euro-map. In the center of the blue model of the Czech Republic is a display showing famous Klaus quotes, related to issues like global warming. "Let’s give the floor to the head of state! Genius samples of Czech President Klaus, wisdom that should be carved in stone, appearing on an alphanumeric display," Černý said according to LN about his part of the work. However, he refused to comment further. Even two days before the unveiling, he claims that the project "does not exist" and that it is all "nonsense."
    The puzzle is square-shaped, with each side measuring 16 meters, weighing between six and eight tons, and was brought to Brussels by three trucks.
     According to reports, the Netherlands is depicted as a country submerged by the sea, with only the tips of minarets sticking out. A British artist cut the monarchy out of the European map due to the uncertain relationship of Britons to the EU, while a German artist portrayed his homeland as a paradise for highway lovers. Across the map of France hangs the sign "Strike!" Sweden is depicted as "Gripen," a packaging of Gripen fighter jets in an IKEA box, LN writes.
    "We gave space for free expression to artists from twenty-seven countries. Art should evoke emotions and sometimes provoke," said Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra, alluding to Austria, which is depicted as a territory with smoking towers of a nuclear power plant. The Czech government reportedly informed the British in advance about the removal of the monarchy from the map of Europe.
    The project will remain in the atrium of the Council of Ministers, the main meeting building in Brussels, for the entire duration of the Czech presidency. The cost of the work is 12 million crowns. The state paid for the project documentation for just under two million crowns. Businessman Zdeněk Bakala covered ten million. However, LN was unable to find out why he did so.
    The Czech Republic, which took over the presidency from France, will pass the baton to Sweden in July.