The sculpture Entropa may hang in the gallery at Hluboká Castle

Hluboká nad Vltavou - The controversial sculpture Entropa, which faced criticism from some EU countries, particularly Bulgaria, after its installation in Brussels, may be exhibited this summer at the Alšova Gallery in South Bohemia (AJG), which is adjacent to Hluboká Castle. Jihočeský hejtman Jiří Zimola stated this today, after discussing it in Hluboká nad Vltavou on Wednesday with the author of Entropa, sculptor David Černý.
    The idea is still in its infancy; the crucial factor will be measuring whether the enormous sculpture will even fit in the gallery. Only then will it make sense to discuss rental costs, but given the friendly relations between the regional leadership and the artist, according to the hejtman, it should be a reasonable amount.
    "I am an advocate of the idea that art should provoke and belong in galleries," said Zimola. The most suitable place for Entropa is the large hall of AJG. The mosaic of Entropa, created as a giant "puzzle" depicting the 27 EU countries, targets the national stereotypes of individual countries.
    Curiously, this space was recently the center of attention for the European Union - press conferences were held there during the Gymnich meeting of foreign ministers.
    This hall at AJG regularly hosts exhibitions of modern art. Among the huge installations, visitors primarily remember the heap of demolished cars that Theodor Pištěk dumped there in 1993.
    The regional government has been considering Entropa for several months. Zimola saw it with his own eyes in Brussels and knows Černý personally. They have not yet addressed the rental issue; given their friendly relations, the hejtman believes it should not be a problem. "I think we can come to a good agreement," Zimola stated.
    Entropa is in Brussels until June and will be placed in the Dox gallery in Prague starting in July. This week, the Hradec Králové City Hall also discussed the possibility of purchasing or renting it with Černý. Zimola said it could appear at AJG by the end of summer. However, it first needs to be determined whether the large piece can even be moved into the gallery.
    When Entropa was unveiled in Brussels at the beginning of the year, it caused a diplomatic scandal between the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, which protested that it was depicted as a country of Turkish toilets. The Czech Republic eventually accommodated Bulgaria by covering the relevant part of the sculpture.
    In a different context, the mayor of Hluboká nad Vltavou, Tomáš Jirsa, intends to contact David Černý soon. The city plans to erect a memorial to Jan Adolf II of Schwarzenberg for his significant contributions to the world-famous appearance of the castle and the development of the entire region. The city hall will reach out to current sculptors, and it has identified about eight potential artists, including Černý.
    However, Jirsa reportedly wants to first ask his colleague in the Senate, Karel Schwarzenberg, whether there is a bust of Adolf somewhere in Austria, as only a small model of the once-planned statue has been preserved at the castle. If a bust were found, it would make the memorial cheaper, according to the mayor.