Israeli vandalises Swedish suicide bomber art

[Ned]

Urban Ranger, being anti-Israel does not necessarily mean being anti-Semitic.

But from my 100,000 foot perspective, an awful lot are.

[Winston]

Story in today's Haaretz

Swedish museum to remove exhibit posters

By The Associated Press

STOCKHOLM - A Swedish museum official said yesterday that he will remove posters for an art exhibition that sparked a diplomatic spat with Israel, but said the display at the root of the controversy will remain.

The man in charge of the exhibition at the Museum of National Antiquities said he will take down posters showing a Palestinian suicide bomber that were posted in 26 subway stations throughout Stockholm to advertise the exhibit.

"This is a personal decision where I as an artistic leader take full responsibility of removing and replacing the posters," Thomas Nordanstad said.

Israeli Ambassador Zvi Mazel on Friday vandalized an art installation that featured a portrait of Jihad suicide bomber Hanadi Jaradat. She killed herself and 21 bystanders in an Oct. 4 suicide bombing in Haifa.

Mazel said the display, made by Israeli-born artist Dror Feiler, glorified suicide bombers.

Museum officials said the exhibit will go on and the Swedish government declined to interfere, saying it doesn't control the country's museums.

The museum has set up 130 posters advertising the exhibition, but only those carrying the image of Jaradat, will be removed and replaced with another image from the exhibition, Nordanstad said.

Nordanstad did not say what the replacement image would be, or if one was planned.

Parts bolded by me.

Seems a wise decision, but you have to wonder what the Swedes were thinking plastering the subway with 130 posters of this woman in the first place.

It also might add in the understanding of the Israeli indignation over this matter.

Here's a pic from the Stockholm subway...

[Cruddy]

What annoys me about this incident is that, if an artist portrayed Ariel Sharon sailing on a sea of blood, that could be taken as an attack on Israel (making him appear bloodthirsty).

Put the Palestinian back in the image - and it's still anti-Israeli.

Heads you win, tails I lose.

[VetLegion]

Interesting observation Cruddy. Probably true too!

[Winston]

Impressive.

Not a single comment on the unveiling that scores of 6 foot posters of this woman's smiling face have been decorating the walls of every metro station in Stockholm, allegedly advertising the exhibition - and not, the people in charge want to make this absolutely clear, NOT trying to glorify the charming killer of 21 in any way...

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Winston
Impressive.

Not a single comment on the unveiling that scores of 6 foot posters of this woman's smiling face have been decorating the walls of every metro station in Stockholm, allegedly advertising the exhibition - and not, the people in charge want to make this absolutely clear, NOT trying to glorify the charming killer of 21 in any way...

How is aadvertising the ehibition glorifying suicide bombing? This should be even mroe bizzare then the argument that the piece itself does.

[Winston]

Look at the picture I attached to my previous post and tell me again it's just advertising a museum exhibition.

[Snotty]

I was stunned when I read that Winston. What does the poster say on it?

Had I taken this the wrong way, as the ambassador did, then I would be furious. I think it would be even simpler to misunderstand a poster. Art is great and all, but its not worth pissing people off to such a great extent. It just seems insensitive.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Winston
Look at the picture I attached to my previous post and tell me again it's just advertising a museum exhibition.

Looks like a typical exhibit advertisement.

[Snotty]

The difference in this advertisement is the fact it is a 6ft picture of a mass murderer, and still fresh in peoples memorys.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Snotty
The difference in this advertisement is the fact it is a 6ft picture of a mass murderer, and still fresh in peoples memorys.

Fresh in people's memories? I doubt that picture was even used in the media before now.

It does depends on what the poster says, I guess, but I suspect not much.

[Winston]

Funny thing Osweld, that the organizers would seem to disagree with your nonchalant viewpoint, since they're now coming to their senses and replacing the killer's portrait.

[Snotty]

The bombing was only 6 months ago, and I imagine word of her identity would spread through the outraged communities. Its going to be hard to see the artistic sentiment if you are full of anger to start with.

If you were a Jew, how would you feel walking past a huge poster of a recent murderer of your people? As I said, it was insensitive for the posters to be put up.

[Winston]

It was in fact only 3½ months ago, and that particular image of her smiling has been widely circulated ever since it was determined she was the bomber, which followed immediately after.

I've seen it in several newspaper articles following up on the attack.

[GePap]

If one could post a poster advertising a show on the USSR with a huge poster of Stalin, or something on Nazism with a huge poster of Hitler, why not her, with a much smaller level of evil?

And what is the caption of the poster- that, matters far more then her image. Again, why the idea that her image alone is some form of glorification? I find that innane, bordering on the insane.