sng_2016-05-12_high-single-crop_k3

not as an MP but as “the former dean of the Academy of
Performing Arts [sic!, Academy of Fine Arts and Design, AFAD
in Bratislava]”: “... The first discussion, which was held in
the SNG, showed that the gallery management supported
the preservation of the current state, based on the fictitious
idea that a reconstruction will cost less and a new building
will cost more. Some of the present designers, art historians
and architects also declared that in their opinion the building
should be preserved. The arguments used to support this
opinion were, however, very vague. Statements such as those
saying that a new gallery would ‘surely’ be more expensive,
that the disassembly of the existing construction will be an
insuperably problem, that it is ‘iconoclastic’ having no place
in the beginning of the 21 st century, that the only reason for
the removal of the existing object is the fact that it is a symbol
of socialism, that it is actually good architecture, an example
of an ‘alternative modern style’ or that it is already almost
a cultural monument, are unconvincing and unacceptable for
me. (...) I personally would prefer to disassemble the existing
bridging. I am sure that the persons in charge must find the
courage for such solutions. I have myself protected many
pieces of modern architecture from demolition or inappropriate
interventions. But it has always been in the case of good
architecture. In this case I am convinced that this is bad
architecture. The Slovak National Gallery building should be,
as such, a piece of art. Take some examples – Guggenheim
in New York, MOMA [sic!, MOCA] in Los Angeles, Sainsbury
Wing in London, Hirshorn [Hirshhorn] in Washington,
examples of new galleries and museums in Bonne, Frankfurt,
Stockholm, Helsinki etc. There is no doubt Slovakia and
Bratislava have the architectural potential to be able to
cope with this problem with dignity, to enrich Bratislava and
represent Slovakia, its architecture and culture.” 44
The opinion of another discussion participant with
executive political power, this time in municipal politics, the
Old City Mayor Andrej Ďurkovský was similarly consistent:
110