The German Sculptor, Olaf Metzel, made this sculpture and called it 'Turkish Delight'. Its placed on the campus of an university in Vienna, Austria.Personally, it not my taste, but I don't see that this sculpture has to be removed what several Austrian citizens of Turkish decent asked for. Is it insulting? No, in my opinion. Can you be offended by this? I really don't know. But there is a fine line between insulting and feeling offended. I saw horrible sculptures about the holocaust, terrible sculptures about all kind of tragic events in world history. But when we are going to mengle in artistic freedom...that's the beginning of the end. That this sculpture is provocative, nothing wrong with. But nothing offensive, and for sure not insulting. I saw terrible insulting cartoons about European leaders etc. here in Turkey. For me is the fine line between insulting and offending a simple one: the first is to harm someone on purpose. The second too often used too break down any form of dialogue. And more a personal reaction on something you dislike.
Also...too much attention for this provocative guy, Olaf Metzel.
Han's, What do you think the Artist is trying to say here with this sculpture???
ReplyDeleteI've been looking at it but cannot yet form an opinion.
Is it - Even though they wear a headscarf, turkish women are the same underneath?
or
Even though they wear a headscarf, turkish women are quick to take their clothes off?
or
Does it mean - Who gives a shit?
I do not know, but it is not offensive.
:)
Ardent,
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion he gave a primitive interpretation about Turkish women: as long they were the headscarfe, their body belongs to their 'men'...???
For sure its not Turkish Delight'..)
Hans, your interpretation may be correct, looking at the sculpture again, the lady does have a very primitive look about her.
ReplyDeleteThe scarf certainly raises a lot of questions and illusions.
Ardent,
ReplyDeleteAt least it opens another discussion over there in Vienna..)
As Arnold Schoenberg stated:
ReplyDelete"If it is art it is not for all and if it is for all it is not art."
Well, this sculpture is obviously for all, would you agree) :)
nice comment Sean,
ReplyDeleteI agree..)))
This is not offensive...
ReplyDeleteOne of the most sold books in the Netherlands is Turkish Delight by Jan Wolkers, petty shocking autobiography...nothing to we with Turkey..))
if this is offending we can take down many statues in Greece and italy, all naked men..))
ReplyDeleteI can think of lots of reasons for why different people would be offended by this... myself, I just wonder about the name of the piece. Seems like there might be an ironic undertone to it that's not meant kindly.
ReplyDeleteProvocative, sure.
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=90839
ReplyDeleteits removed by unknown people....
Turkey is rying to dominate the EU agenda.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's dominating the Western life style as well.
With Turkey in the EU, we can expect at least 100 complaints every day of anti 'Turkiness', whatever.
No to To Turkey in the EU!
They can silence their own artists, writers, but not Europeans..
I wonder what a woman who wears a headscarf ONLY because of her religion thinks about this sculpture. Easy for us to say "not insulting", but she would feel insulted, for sure.
ReplyDeleteI really do not get the point of the artist, by the way. An unhappy tired ordinary Turkish woman, naked and wearing a headscarf...
?
Esra, you can feel insulted but that doesn't mean you ARE insulted..))
ReplyDelete