Tsunami x 2 (Thursday 10 March 2005)
Another aid exhibition
compiled by Elaine Cronin
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| Anonymous; from a painting project
with children in Sri Lanka; courtesy Fergus Ahern |
We've reported on various 'tsunami' events
recently, ones which have raised very impressive amounts of
money for tsunami relief. The response by concerned artists
continues: there is to be an exhibition held in the Tallaght
Civic Theatre in aid of countries affected by natural and man-made
disasters, including those which were devastated by the tsunami
last December. The 'Art Aid' exhibition is to be launched by
Mayor Robert Dowds on 13 March at 7pm and will include paintings,
prints, drawings and photographs by contributing artists. Charities
to benefit from sales include Christian Aid Ireland, Concern,
Irish Red Cross, and Trocaire. The exhibition continues in the
Civic Theatre until 20 March when it will move to South Dublin
County Council Headquarters.
Not helping
compiled by Claire Flannery
Families of the tsunami disaster victims
are apparently horrified at this week's announcement of plans
to create a tsunami theme-ride attraction. Although 'education'
is the primary aim of the projected Thai Tsunami Museum, Tourism
Minister Juthamas Siriwan has insisted - on the grounds that
"tourism is an enjoyable product" - that the museum
would be made more attractive and interesting by a simulated
tidal wave theme ride. Siriwan went on to suggest that "maybe
this will be the next Universal Studios of tidal waves."
Albeit admitting that
there is a pressing need to boost the damaged tourist industry
in Thailand, the proposed Hollywood-style Tsunami simulator
has been rightly discredited as 'tasteless', 'gross', 'crass',
and 'smacking of money' . The naivety of the whole idea and
its public announcement has, however, gone largely unnoticed.
Had a Western comedian, say Billy Connolly, suggested such an
idea in the edgy spirit of black humour, how would the public
have reacted?
The latest news regarding
Siriwan's enterprising plans will have brought relief to those
close to the Tsunami events: as the Thai government yesterday
dispelled plans to include a theme park as part of the Tsunami
Museum. A government spokesperson stated that the original quote,
that of the Minister for Tourism, was taken out of context.
 |
Tsunami, 26 December 2004. Image held
here |
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