Libeskind and Berlusconi clash over manlihood
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi during his last election campaign.
Silvio Berlusconi has threatened to withdraw planning permission for a new contemporary art museum and commercial development in Milan designed by Daniel Libeskind after the US-based architect described the Italian Prime Minister as a “xenophobe” and called his policies “repulsive”. According to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Berlusconi objects to this design because it is not manly enough and communicates a sense of impotence. In an interview with the same newspaper, Libeskind hit back: “In Fascist Italy, everything that was not ‘straight’ was considered ‘perverse art’.
Berlusconi is notorious for his manipulation of the press, but Libeskind’s own populist appeal is also legendary. The small, fast-talking architect always draws a crowd on the international lecture circuit and he even appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. However, it remains to be seen who will really prove to be manly enough to end this childish quarrel. Vittorio Sgarbi, a former culture adviser to the city of Milan, told the Italian periodical Il Giornale dell’Arte: “I don’t think the Prime Minister will let him proceed with his skyscraper or his museum unless he apologises.”
Libeskind’s design for a curving skyscraper (middle) in Milan is not manly enough, says Berlusconi (Photo: EPA)
Read more:
The Independent
The Art Newspaper
Related posts: Prime minister announces plan to test making France’s museums free // New French Museum Embraces Architecture // Libeskind adds roof to ‘his’ Jewish Museum // France to test free museums // 40 artifacts return to Italy //
juli 16th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Finally, someone who’ll be noticed (Berlusconi) calls Libeskind for the clown he really is.
can only hope that the Milanese developers will cut their losses and fire this hypocrite. After all, who would want to live in a building that will forever be associated with male impotence?
Probably not even Libeskind himself. Bear in mind that Libeskind is probably the only architect who was so unqualified that he had to hire another architect to design his own apartment in New York.
No wonder the Libeskinds are the laughinstock of New York and the profession. And now Studio Libeskind is the laughingstock of Europe as well.
Bravo Berlusconi!! Bravo!!