Israel's ambassador to Sweden destroys artwork in Stockholm museum

Haaretz ^ | 1/17/2004 | By Haaretz Service and Reuters

[eclectic]

STOCKHOLM - Israel's ambassador to Sweden destroyed an artwork depicting a Palestinian suicide bomber in a Stockholm museum on Friday, Swedish radio reported on Saturday.

The art installation, entitled "Snow White and the Madness of Truth," consisted of a rectangular basin filled with red water on which floated a boat carrying a portrait of Hanadi Jaradat, who killed herself and 21 others in an attack at the Maxim restaurant in Haifa on October 4.

Ambassador Zvi Mazel was among the guests at the opening of the Historical Museum's exhibition linked to an international anti-genocide conference to be held in Stockholm from January 26 to 28.

Public service SR radio news said Mazel furiously ripped out electrical wires attached to the art work and threw a spotlight in the basin.

"This was not a piece of art," Mazel told SR. "It was a monstrosity. An obscene distortion of reality."

The artists who created the installation are Dror Feiler an Israeli who resides in Sweden, and Gunilla Skold Feiler, his Swedish wife. Feiler, who described the ambassador's actions as "vandalism" was to have performed at the exhibition, but announced that he would not perform as long as Mazel was present, Israel Radio reported. Museum director Kristian Berg then requested that Mazel leave, and escorted him out of the exhibition hall.

Berg said he realized the installation may have been emotional for Mazel, but that destroying art was unacceptable.

"If you don't like what you see, you can leave the premises," he told SR.

Israel has demanded that the museum remove the art installation, Israel Radio reported.

[Gordian Blade]

I don't think you get it -- the ambassador was merely continuing the artistic process, taking a static piece of art and turning it into performance art. If the artist is worried about the destruction of property, I'm sure the ambassador would be happy to reimburse the $1.99 worth of materials.

But to be serious, people who march with a Nazi flag through a Jewish neighborhood shouldn't be surprised if they get their flag torn up. Destruction of Property -- what a horrible thing. Those damn Jews fighting back when people try to kill them or celebrate the killers. Not like the good old days depicted in Fiddler on the Roof when after the latest pogrom they'd just be nice Jews, mourn their losses, pack up, and quietly move on. They sure knew their place back then, didn't they?

[risk]

Finally, a diplomat who stands up for what he believes.
Besides, his conduct was much better performance art than the piece he used as a "prop."

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

When an "artist" celebrates mass murder with his multimedia installation, don't be suprised when adults take offense.

I'm not the least bit surprised that an adult took offense to this installation. However there is not a single person here that can rightfully, truthfully and honestly defend the illegal actions of the ambassador in this case.

[risk]

I can. The role of a diplomat can be critical in communicating a sense of crisis his nation feels in times of extreme threat. Sometimes diplomats must sacrifice their own freedom, or the lives of their own family members in order to execute on a matter critical to the survival of his nation. At other times, he must break his host nation's very laws in order to conduct this business. It's a matter of fact that is demonstrated every day, in every capital, and by nearly every country around the world.

On this day, a diplomat sought to bring attention to an artifact of little or no cultural value that was being used as an object of deadly propaganda against his own people. He chose to act in a way that would encourage discussion around the world, much as we are doing this moment here on FR.

If you're still not convinced, imagine this same diplomat in a parallel universe, one in which Israel existed while Nazi Germany was about to begin its mass extermination of Jews in Europe. Would this Israeli have been justified by destroying a work of art that clearly advocated the gassing of Jews?

Of course he would. So tell me what the difference is today.

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

But to be serious, people who march with a Nazi flag through a Jewish neighborhood shouldn't be surprised if they get their flag torn up.

Of course they shouldn't be suprised. That is not the point. The right to free, legal expression is something that we here hold dear. How many conservative speakers get shouted down at universities and we gnash our teeth over it? And since when has a "depiction" of an atrocity automatically made it a "celebration" of an atrocity? This act may have been understandable, even enviable to some people, but it was still wrong and the ambassador should be prosecuted.

[risk]

This act may have been understandable, even enviable to some people, but it was still wrong and the ambassador should be prosecuted.

That may be true as well.

[primeval patriot]

Well, if you want to be technical about it, the Israeli Ambassador did muck about with some private property.

The art in question was designed to elicit support for social justice. I'd say the Ambassador delivered it.

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

Of course he would. So tell me what the difference is today.

The difference is that it IS today. And how can an "artifact of little or no cultural value:" be simultaneously "an object of deadly propaganda?" Face it, this was no effort to "encourage discussion around the world." Please. This was some guy who lost his temper at the sight of something that pissed him off and he acted on impulse. Your spin is thin.

[dennisw]

"destroying art was unacceptable" bump.

Mazel tov to ambassador Mazel.

[hellinahandcart]

It has a sense of rich irony, the destruction of it is itself a work of art. Performance art, if you will.

I'll accept that, but like any artist, the ambassador's performance is subject to critique:

He didn't exactly push the envelope of drama here. The piece would have been much more effective if he had

(a)Left all electric wires plugged in when he threw the spotlight into the aquarium, causing it to arc and smoke and boil the red water

(b)Opted for the "parting of the Red Sea" by smashing or overturning the aquarium, and sending little Snow White on a swift raft-ride across the museum floor. This would then invite audience participation, from guests whose immediate reaction would be to shriek and race into the puddle to rescue little Snow White-- slipping, falling, and staining themselves and their clothing red in the process.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, ambassador, practice...

[Sci Fi Guy]

But my guess is that most Freepers are simply happy to see the shoe on the other foot for once, more than they openly support such actions. At least, I hope that's what they're feeling.

Or it could be that most Freepers put doing the morally right thing, ahead doing of the legally right thing.

[Huber]

The Swedes' issue was not what the ambassador did, but rather how he did it. Now if he had strapped a belt of explosives around the exhibit, detonated the exhibit and killed some bystanders in the process, that would have been OK.

[hellinahandcart]

Well, of course he should be prosecuted, the performance wouldn't be complete without it. And it should be televised on multiple screens in the museum. Homage to Nam June Paik, if you will...

[dennisw]

Good news from Svenska ...Thanks for the ping

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

Well, if you want to be technical about it, the Israeli Ambassador did muck about with some private property.

So when it suits us the destruction of private property is a "technicality?" If this was an athiest destroying a Crucifix that "offended" him it would be OFF WITH HIS HEAD on this forum.

[risk]

Spin? According the BBC on December 25th of last year -- since September 2000, about 436 Israelis have died as a result of sucide attacks. The number of injured is close to 3,000, they say. From other sources, we know that thousands of other attacks have been averted by Israeli defense and intelligence forces.

Yet you sit in front of your computer doling out criticism while Israeli men and women are suffering from physical wounds that will never heal because of these bombers. You can moralize, equivocate, and bemoan the lost of a useless artist's freedom of speech but it doesn't change the fact that this diplomat's act was a real statement of bravery. He stood up for his people, knowing he could face prison in a hostile nation.

In all likelihood, the artist is probably grateful for the attention.

Yes, the diplomat will have his day in court. But his actions speak out for the strength of the Israeli people in their fight to survive. You're free to think that respect for private property and freedom of expression were set back in unforgivable ways by this act. But people are dying. He couldn't forget that. I don't think you can, either. But you just aren't as desperate as he is yet.

[risk]

Good news from Svenska ...Thanks for the ping

I'm moved by this man's courage. If only my ambassadors could be this strong every day, in every mission.

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

Spin? According the BBC on December 25th of last year -- since September 2000, about 436 Israelis have died as a result of sucide attacks.

By your "spin" I was referring to your effort to portray this as some kind of premeditated catalyst for discussion when it was clearly a tantrum. Everything you say in your last post is correct. I argue with none of it. And I myself, given the same circumstances, may have reacted the same way. That does not change the fact that flying off the handle in a museum and destroying a "work of art" is inexcusable. It's 5:30 a.m. on the West Coast. I'm going to bed. Thank you for the free exchange of ideas.

[primeval patriot]

In all likelihood, the artist is probably grateful for the attention.

That was his intention IMO.

Why doesn't this genius instead sell 30 x 40 color prints of the massacre. I'm sure some liberal chump would love to dissect the artistic merits of the image over cocktails. And his "art" wouldn't be subject to marauding Israeli Ambassadors.

[risk]

That was his intention IMO.

I think he was upstaged by Ambassador Zvi Mazel. That part I think he didn't expect. It should be a lesson to all who threaten life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness: don't expect the predictable from "civlized" free men.

Free men have surprises waiting and prepared -- and gaul that never fails to surprise the tyrants.