02/15/10 -- Controversy shows no signs of subsiding at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris since Wednesday 10th February, when they decided to remove a work of art by the Chinese artist Ko Siu Lan from the front wall on the Malaquais embankment in the 6th arrondissement. The piece in question, which was on show for a few hours before being taken down, was part of a collective exhibition running until 21st February. The piece twists the words of Nicholas Sarkozy, “Work more to earn more”. It is made up of four black banners, each with the following words in white lettering; “Work”, “More”, “Earn” and “Less”. Depending on where they were standing passers-by could read it as “Earn more” or “Work less”.

The artist’s lawyer and consultant, Agnès Tricoire, sent a formal demand to the management on Thursday 11th February requesting them to hang the artwork back up in the street. The management did not follow through with the request, believing the piece could “undermine public service neutrality”.

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Henri-Claude Cousseau, Head of the college, suggested the banners could be exhibited inside the building. Ko Siu Lan refused, believing the piece only had meaning if it was visible to passers-by.

The artist’s lawyer revealed she was considering an appeal to the civil court for “improper breach of contract between the institution and the artist” as “there is a basic violation of the freedom of expression”.

On Friday 12th February at 6pm, during a private viewing of the exhibition, around 50 people held a demonstration in the cold in front of the college entrance, opposite the Seine. They threw hundreds of pieces of paper into the air, each bearing the words “Work”, “More”, “Earn” or “Less”. Some students called for the Head of the college to resign, citing “a worrying self-censorship”.

“This installation had however been planned for a very long time, explains Clare Carolin, exhibition organiser. Henri-Claude Cousseau had been informed and the piece even appears in the catalogue.” According to the organiser the college Head had confided to her that this particular piece risked complicating relations with the Education Minister, at a time when the financial contract of the institution was up for review. The artist Ko Siu Lan confirms that she had been notified of this “censorship” by a simple e-mail, something she couldn’t imagine happening in France.

The Culture Minister is so far saying nothing. Socialist Party member and Mayor of Paris, Betrand Delanoe, claimed to be “dismayed” and on Friday 12th February he suggested to the artist that her piece be displayed at “104”, the new Paris arts centre.

The artist has not responded to this proposal. The Socialist Party also condemns “censorship for political reasons”.

[Full article]

By Mathilde Fassin

--Translated by Natalie Jennings

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