World - $23 million ceiling art unveiled at U.N. building

GENEVA: Spanish artist Miquel Barcelo unveiled his lavish, $23 million ceiling painting at the United Nations building here on Tuesday, a project that has evoked controversy over its hefty price tag.

In a ceremony with Spain’s King Juan Carlos and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Barcelo gave the world its first glimpse of the 1,500-square-metre elliptical dome full of bright colours and torn aluminium.

The most striking element may be the hundreds of small icicle-shaped pieces that dangle down from the ceiling.

“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 says. “Trees, dunes, donkeys, multicolored beings flowing drop by drop.”

The 50-year-old abstract artist used more than 100 tonnes of paint with pigments from all over the world. The ceiling took over a year to produce, and Barcelo worked with architects, engineers and even particle physics laboratories to develop the extra-strength aluminium to adorn the dome.

But the project has come under fire, and not for its unconventional aesthetics.

The Spanish government is funding 40 per cent of the costs, with the rest footed by private-sector donors. Of the public money, €500,000 comes from a budget for overseas development aid and international organisations like the U.N.. said the Foreign Ministry.

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 lawmaker 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 Monday news conference with Barcelo and Spain’s Foreign Minister was cancelled in Geneva. The government also has not said how much it paid the artist for the commission. The Spanish mission in Geneva declined to comment on the matter.

Mr. Ban, meanwhile, thanked Barcelo for putting his “unique talents to work in service of the world.” The Secretary-General said: “The artwork you have created for this room is innovative and radiant. I have no doubt that people will come to see it whether they have business here or not.” — AP