Press: Czech sponsored art work for Council in Brussels mocks Klaus

A Czech sponsored art work being unveiled at the Council of the European Union in Brussels on Monday mocks the country’s president, Václav Klaus, Lidové noviny reported. The piece is a large jigsaw puzzle of the EU, with individual countries designed by an artist from that state, the paper said. The Czech Republic’s contribution is by sculptor David Černý; against a blue background, it features a light panel showing controversial statements by Mr Klaus on subjects such as global warming (which the Czech head of state asserts is not due to the activities of mankind). Czech Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra defended the piece, saying art should arouse emotions and is sometimes provocative. Most of the costs of the project have been covered by one of the Czech Republic’s richest men, coal magnate Zdeněk Bakala.