Kontakt:
Elisabeth Lundgren Tfn: 033-35 75 96 Webbansvarig: Marie-Louise Weise Tef: 033-35 71 79 Adress: Kulturhuset P A Halls terrass (Schélegatan 4) Postadress: Box 856 501 15 Borås Tfn: 033-35 76 76 E-post: Kultur |
Nothing has caused as much discussion in Borås as the Pinocchio sculpture. Even before his arrival, many local people already have fixed views about him. There have been meetings to discuss him and demonstrations too. “Sculptures have always aroused people´s feelings. Their sole task is to be experienced by us", claims Hasse Persson, head of the art museum. The reaction pattern is familiar from previous instances. Carl Milles´ Poseidon in Gothenburg and Bodhi i Viskan in Borås are two examples of sculptures that gave rise to heated discussion before they were erected on site. “When the sculpture has been in place for a year or two people start to say: “I don´t understand what the fuss was all about, I love this work", says Hasse Persson. Director of Culture in Borås, Elisabeth Lundgren believes that this process, with regard to Pinocchio, has actually started before the sculpture has been erected. “I feel that reactions have already shifted and that more and more people are positive about the idea of Pinocchio standing there at the end of Allégatan", she says. “At the moment it feels as though people in Borås are curious and expectant." “And good sculpture must stir up feelings. If no one has strong feelings about the work it means that it is so feeble that no one notices it", Hasse Persson adds. Chairman of the Arts Committee in Borås, Bengt Wahlgren, was surprised by the heat of the debate: “With regard to public art it seems as though feelings play the leading role and perhaps that is not so strange since contemporary art seeks to arouse feelings, thoughts and discussion." In discussing the project, opponents of Pinocchio have concentrated mainly on three arguments: the storybook figure as the subject of a sculpture, the urban landscape of Borås and the decision-making process. The subject. Opponents claim that Pinocchio has nothing to do with Borås. The avant-garde of this argument also maintains that the Disney figure strengthens American cultural imperialism. Supporters point out that the original story of Pinocchio is Italian and is universal in its treatment of the art of being human. They also maintain that a work of art does not need to be a monument to something but is a sculpture that an artist gives expression to. “How many of the other 90 sculptures in Borås have any connection with the town", Bengt Wahlgren asks. The urban landscape of Borås. Opponents claim that a sculpture that is nine metres high on that particular site will have too much of an influence on the urban landscape. Supporters point out that Jim Dine designed his sculpture for this specific site and maintain that the sculpture at that site will be something very positive for Borås. “There has long been an idea about a large sculpture on that site", Bengt Wahlgren points out. Democratic procedures. Opponents claim that democratic procedures were ignored in that the donors specified the subject as well as the site of the sculpture. They also raise the issue of people´s right to the public domain. Supporters claim that Borås had every opportunity to say no to the Pinocchio sculpture and that the decision was made in accordance with democratic procedures, with full discussion in the appropriate committees and a final vote of 40 in favour and 28 against in the Municipal Council. “No other issues have been so thoroughly dealt with through the arts and other committees right up to the municipal council", claims Hasse Persson. He also points to the fact that procedures necessarily differ depending on whether a work of art is to be financed by the taxpayer or whether — like Pinocchio — it comes as a donation. When the municipality is paying for the work one can, for example, choose to have a competition for an artistic treatment of a specific site. With a donation one can either say yes please or no thank you. In the case of Pinocchio — or Walking to Borås — as the sculpture is to be called, Hasse Persson thinks that it was natural to say yes please. “In my view this is Jim Dine´s most important sculpture and we can feel extremely happy that it will end up in Borås rather than in New York of Paris", he maintains. The sculpture Walking to Borås (Pinocchio) will be formally inaugurated on Friday 16 May at 4 pm. This will also mark the start of the Borås Festival of the Arts which will continue through to 25 May. On Saturday 17 May, the Borås International Sculpture Festival will be opened, showing works by 27 artists. This will continue until 21 September. For further information please contact: |
