Germany in Brief
June 20, 2003
Egypt miffed over exhibit featuring Nefertiti
Ever since it was put on public display in 1922, the limestone bust of Queen Nefertiti, wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep, has been one of Berlin's Egyptian Museum's most precious and prized artifacts. But Germany's possession of the 3,300 year-old statute has long been a sore point with its country of origin, Egypt, where it was unearthed by German archaeologists almost a century ago. Egypt has for many years demanded the figure's return. The situation has now escalated due to a controversial art installation which includes the figure. The installation comprises of the Hungarian artists "Little Warsaw" lowering the bust of Nefertiti onto the bronze torso of an almost naked statue. The event was filmed and is due to be shown at the Biennale in Venice as Hungary's official contribution to the art festival. Egyptian officials are enraged and claim that the bust of Nefertiti, or "Nofi", as she is called in Berlin, is no longer safe in German hands.
German Pop Star nominated for Federal Cross of Merit
Popular German pop singer Dieter Bohlen has been nominated for one of Germany's most-prestigious awards: the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Monika Griefahn, chairwoman of the parliamentary group for culture and media, who nominated Bohlen this week, said on Thursday that Bohlen was a "figurehead for Germany" and "a role model for Germanys' youth." Bohlen is half of one of Germany's biggest pop sensations, Modern Talking, and recently starred as the main judge on the German version of the successful British TV show "Pop Idol." He is one of Germany's most-successful writers, too, with record-breaking sales of his autobiography last year. The blonde-haired, bronzed 50-year-old is famous for his sunny boy image, numerous affairs and his acid tongue. Bohlen was nominated by Griefahn last year but was later removed from the list.