As always, politics tries to take over everything. And the "Mediterranean Union" is no different.
After searching hard to look for an article I remember reading in the Brussels Journal about a recent art exhibit in Rome exploring the "common Mediterranean identity" which of course really means the merging of Arab and European, all I could find was commentary, and nothing on the exhibition itself. There are no direct links to the exhibition at all.
Except for a google search which located the the most comprehensive information reprinted fully at American Renaissance: Italy: Mediterranean Man Explored In Rome Art Show - the original article is no longer available on the internet.
I suspect this is part of the continuous secrecy that shrouds all dealings between Europe and Arabia, hence my skepticism at Sarkozy's alliance (notwithstanding his obvious attempt at power mongering, leaving Germany out of the picture - now that could be excusable, but Sarko really doesn't understand the hot waters he's entering).
Here is a quote from the curator:
"This exhibition is an utopia, of bringing together united in dialogue the countries of the Mediterranean, with their wealth of history and culture, too often divided by tragic conflicts"Here is the pertinent quote from the article, and the message of the exhibition:
The language of the artists on display at the Vittoriano complex in central Rome is experimental and seeks to launch a message which underlines the existing historic links between the people of this region, who all face onto a sea which should serve to unite different cultures who share a common if turbulent history.I remember doing a google search for the artists mentioned, and found them all to be of the same body of modern/contemporary "artists", weak on the technique, and strong on the concept. So, perhaps in they are a community in their mediocrity, as dictated by the methods of current art schools. Yes, North and South have really merged.
Here are a couple of examples that I could find on-line, one of a Moroccan, another form a Jordanian. They could just as well come from any gallery in down town Toronto or New York.
 |
 |
What a long way art has come from the beautiful French gift of the Algiers Basilica.