Graziano Cecchini will not be silenced. Cecchini, described as a "right-wing Italian art prankster" allegedly under constant police surveillance since the Trevi Fountain protest, told TG5 that his intended purpose is to use "art—if we want to call it art—to stress our malaise". He was also quoted as saying that each of the colored balls "represented a lie told by a politician". In that case, the half-million balls deployed by Cecchini and his assistance—who were detained by police in the wake of this latest demonstration—seem merely allegorical, as a literal interpretation would suggest the number insufficient. And, yes, Mr. Cecchini, I would call it art. Good show. ____________________ Notes: Associated Press. "Multicolored balls flood Rome's Spanish Steps". MSNBC.com. January 16, 2008. See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22684229/ Dougherty, Michael. "Ballin'! Italian Artist Unzips His Latest Protest". RadarOnline.com. January 18, 2008. See http://www.radaronline.com/exclusiv...prankster-graziano-cecchini-strikes-again.php
Life goes on. One American tourist told Reuters, "Even when they protest, Italians can't help but create something beautiful .... I don't see any meaning in it, but it's a sight to behold". And he's got a point, I suppose. It is kind of pretty: Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Plastic balls float in Pietro Bernini's Barcaccia fountain in Piazza di Spagna in Rome January 16, 2008. (REUTERS/Remo Casilli) One other detail from that Reuters article: apparently, leaflets were distributed at the scene reading, "Italians' balls are broken". (In truth, I was surprised you picked up on the Bravia advert. Of course, I haven't been watching as much television lately, so I wouldn't know how heavily it was played.)
Actually, that ad is already a couple of years old. A short memory span seems to be a must in modern (pop) culture, though. Someone with a good memory could get crazy, seeing how much re-hashing and re-petition there is!
If they did that for Washington DC, the sheer mass of the all of the balls would have affected the gravitational pull of the planet. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
And what are we to think of this? Okay, so I am not making this up: Apparently, the tour ended six days ago, on January 14. And yes, there are pictures. And, yes ... the general public was, indeed, invited to join him as along the way.
Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Christo
