 Peace Prize Antiques
PEACE PRIZE ANTIQUES
Year: 2010
Place: An Island in the Eastern Mediterranean
Category: Fairy tale
Called on a new mission, Nobel prize-winning UN peace-keeping soldiers from Sweden--the brigade who have already previously worked in Cyprus--are on their way to the eastern Mediterranean. Called on the same mission, to this problematic island on which peace has still not come, is another brigade. The terracotta soldiers of Cyprus, from the antique era before Christ, have emigrated, and now reside in the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm.
A sea route is being preferred for this mission. The route has been drawn up (see Maps 1-2-3-4-5).
The mission is secretive and the form of its conceptualization has been rid of any kind of danger. For this reason, no insurance companies have any interest in this ship.
In these days, where the "contemporary" is used as the determining word, a "contemporary art project" is being conceptualized to be realized in the year 2010, and its sponsors are not known (or rather, they do not want to be known).
The fairy tale of an island which has been disadvantaged because of its geo-political situation has no "monsters"--"monsters" have been gotten rid of in this tale. But it is just as exciting, if not more exciting, than the adventures of Gulliver. There are no slave oarsmen, but there are "volunteer rowers." Besides their having no identity, they have also been programmed to multiply themselves.
Under these conditions, this Island, which is about to abandon its place in the eastern Mediterranean, has been metamorphosed into a floatable ship. A new direction has been determined for this cursed island. And now its oars are rowing it towards the West, a unique ship (see Picture A).
As the antique terracotta soldiers have refused any use of technology, the route has been drawn up according to one of Piri Reis's most beautiful maps of the Mediterranean. (see Maps 1-2-3-4-5). With the consensus of all the seafarers a secret plan is being applied, by which they will stop at no ports. The oarsmen are rowing the ship in a synchronized fashion. Blue berets are shining under the rays of the Mediterranean sun. The antique terracotta soldiers are taking strength from the hot sun (see Picture-B)
The speed is increasing through the skill of the oarsmen. The waters are clearer and calmer than usual.
And now, with a sudden and quiet decision of the crew, the ship is being directed towards the harbor of Malta. The decision to abandon all of the guns and munitions belonging to the colonial British bases, together with the strange Harrier planes, on the shores of Malta, has necessitated a stop . This decision has been made through a consensus of all the seamen involved.
It is under these conditions that the "Gun-free Soldier" concept has been written down and sealed in the "ship's regulations (see Picture C).
There is very little time to cross the Strait of Gibraltar. The seamen, who took a moment's break from rowing to gaze for the last time on the Mediterranean, were very sentimental. With one voice, they whistled the last section of Mozart's Requiem together. This was almost a new symphonic poetry, and the sound licked the waters and flew away.
Now the Mediterranean is behind them. They are somewhere uncharted in the middle of the ocean. At 30˚ latitude and 45˚ longitude, only a short while before her journey's end, this island, which is proudly thinking, with deep assumptions, that she will be missed, is now anchoring at her new spot. (Look map 5)
Now she has nobody looking for her or asking about her. She will pick up new habits in no time.
The mission is completed. The oarsmen are saluting, in a single line on the deck (see the main panel). Whether long or short the journey, she has traveled across the sea and the story has ended here. As the new history is being determined with its new multicultural heroes, this story has been transformed into a "contemporary art" product and also assigned as a candidate for the Nobel prize.
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