Hoax Art

Security officials confirmed that the display of Bulgaria was covered up overnight in response to outrage in Sofia over the crude, artistic portrayal.

The eight-ton piece entitled "Entropa" by controversial Czech conceptual artist David Cerny pokes fun at national sore points and stereotypes. The work resembles a plastic scale-model kit of an EU map and was installed at a Brussels building where EU summits take place.

The Czech EU presidency apologized immediately after the initial presentation of the piece to its EU partners on Monday, Jan. 12. Sofia soon after made a formal complaint and demanded the removal of the segment representing Bulgaria.

Slovakia also protested at being depicted as an Hungarian salami but was appeased with an apology.

Cerny, who has made his name through his provocative artworks, had told the Czech government in Prague that "Entropa" would be a collaborative piece by artists representing all 27 member states. He later admitted that he had produced the entire work himself.