The work can speak for itself.
October 15, 2012 5:10 AM   Subscribe

In the spirit of free speech. (SLYT in Swedish.) Artist Lars Vilks' sculpture Nimis Nimis in the Republic of Ladonia (a k a, the Kullaberg nature reserve) (previously) has been made into a minaret, broadcasting the Islamic call to prayer six times a day.

The artist, who wishes to remain anonymous is quoted as saying:

"The work can speak for itself. There is already enough narcissism and exhbitionism within the Swedish art community."
posted by three blind mice (8 comments total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Why do I feel like Edward Woodward should be trapped inside, screaming?
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:13 AM on October 15, 2012 [3 favorites]


Interesting that he chose to set it to broadcast six times a day. I'm contemplating why he might have made that choice.

Is it to distinguish the intent? Presumably the timer is set at four hour intervals, rather than in any kind of co-ordination with the five prayer times. So is this a way to say "Look, this sound should be just as acceptable in a public space as any other, even if it means nothing to you."?
posted by bardophile at 6:14 AM on October 15, 2012


Awesome! I was Secretary of State for Ladonia in the late 1990s, coinciding with my last year at Saint Mary's College High School. Glad to see Lars has continued his work despite the pressure that the local police put on him to stop his building activities.
posted by parmanparman at 6:25 AM on October 15, 2012 [1 favorite]


Lar·son (Lärsn)
n.
The act of voluntarily and willfully hanging a Scandinavian artwork to inflame someone about something to with Islam.
posted by MuffinMan at 6:54 AM on October 15, 2012 [1 favorite]


So is this a way to say "Look, this sound should be just as acceptable in a public space as any other, even if it means nothing to you."?

Unless Google Translate is horribly wrong I really don't think so: "He spoke at a recent meeting in New York organized by Zion (Stop Islamization of nations)."
posted by Mooseli at 7:09 AM on October 15, 2012


Here's the English Wikipedia version of the article linked to above on Kullaberg, and another on Ladonia (for those who don't wish to find it in the previous). And...here's a google translation of the quote page.
posted by Atreides at 7:29 AM on October 15, 2012


Ok, then I'm just terribly confused. Lars Vilk, who created the original sculpture, spoke at a talk organized by SION. Now an anonymous artist has put into the sculpture a device that will broadcast the azaan. Is that what's happened?

Why?
posted by bardophile at 7:37 AM on October 15, 2012


Awesome! I was Secretary of State for Ladonia in the late 1990s, coinciding with my last year at Saint Mary's College High School. Glad to see Lars has continued his work despite the pressure that the local police put on him to stop his building activities.

> So is this a way to say "Look, this sound should be just as acceptable in a public space as any other, even if it means nothing to you."?
Unless Google Translate is horribly wrong I really don't think so: "He spoke at a recent meeting in New York organized by Zion (Stop Islamization of nations)."


I think you have misread the article. From what I read, Lars created the original sculpture but had Lars had nothing to do with the modifications.

Why?

From the mangled translation of the first link:
It could be that they consider me as the Islam critics who would take offense if it came a call to prayer, but it can also be a humorous points and a comment to the debate, said Vilks to the radio.
posted by kiskar at 1:42 AM on October 16, 2012


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