US$23m artwork for UN unveiled

Source: Agencies  |   2008-11-19  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

A US$23 million ceiling painting featuring hundreds of dangling icicle shapes that has been criticized for its hefty price tag was unveiled yesterday at the United Nations.

The 1,500-square-meter elliptical dome full of bright colors and torn aluminum took more than a year to produce.

Spanish abstract artist Miquel Barcelo used more than 100 tons of paint with pigments from all over the world, and worked with architects, engineers and even particle physics laboratories to develop the extra-strength aluminum for the dome.

"On a day of immense heat in the middle of the Sahel desert, I recall with vivacity the mirage of an image of the world dripping toward the sky," Barcelo said. "Trees, dunes, donkeys, multicolored beings flowing drop by drop."

The Spanish Foreign Ministry said the government was funding 40 percent of the costs, with the rest footed by private-sector donors.

Of the public money, 500,000 euros (US$633,000) came from a budget for overseas development aid and international organizations like the UN. Spain's conservative opposition Popular Party complained that this means money was diverted from projects to alleviate poverty and boost health care in poorer countries, but the ministry insists the funding for Barcelo's work was separate.

The dispute reached Parliament last week, with Popular Party law maker Gonzalo Robles asking "how many thousands of children could have been looked after" with the money spent on the artwork. The ruling Socialists accused him of twisting the facts.

A news conference with Barcelo and Spain's foreign minister was canceled in Geneva yesterday. The Spanish mission in Geneva declined to comment.

At a ceremony with Spain's King Juan Carlos, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon thanked Barcelo for putting his "unique talents to work in service of the world."

"The artwork you have created for this room is innovative and radiant," the secretary-general said.