David Černý: Entropa

„Dox is a place, where the unpredictability of art is a value that allows an unexpected contribution. The project Entropa and its story is a clear example,“ says Leoš Válka, director of DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, where the sculpture of David Černý will be exhibited from June 12 to January 4, 2010. Famously controversial work, which the sculptor created to mark the Czech presidency of the European Union Council in Brussels, can be finally reviewed by the Czech citizens.  For the duration of the exhibition at centre DOX, the visitors can here directly vote, whether they like or dislike Entropa. Their views can be expressed also at www.tyden.cz.

The sculpture, which provocatively addresses the stereotype themes relating to each EU country, aroused many emotional discussions in the Czech Republic and the world as well. It iritated some Bulgarians – the „turkish“ squat toilet „representing“ Bulgaria had to be covered.

The sculpture, which provocatively addresses the stereotype themes relating to each EU country, aroused many emotional discussions in the Czech Republic and the world as well. It iritated some Bulgarians – the „turkish“ squat toilet „representing“ Bulgaria had to be covered. 
The Public can look forward to a whole array of supporing activities. For example, there will be discussions about what does Europe mean for us. Another theme will be the promotion of Czech culture abroad. Exactly in this area did David Černý do already so much for the Czech Republic. According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the sculpture is, from its marketing point of view, unbelievably successful – not many art works are able to capture the main news all over Europe! 
Černý mystified even the Czech government, since he presented the sculpture as the work of 27 European artists. In reality, Krištof Kintera
a Tomáš Pospiszyl helped him create imaginary websites of non-existing fictional colaborators. Černý later apologized and added: „We knew that the truth will be revealed. We just wanted to know before that moment, whether Europe is able to laugh at itself. At the start there was a question, what do we really know about Europe.“ The sculpture Entropa „ is a parody of the socially activistic art, which balances on the edge between would-be controversial attacks on national character and an undisturbing decoration of official spaces“, said the author.