The British Museum held a fashion show with Greek elements on the 17th, but it attracted criticism from the Greek culture department because the venue was located in the exhibition hall where the Parthenon stone carvings were displayed.
This ERDEM fashion show features the work of designer Edham Morarioglu. Morarioglu's parents are from Turkey and England, and the idea for the show is said to have been inspired by the costumes worn by a Greek soprano in an opera on the theme of ancient Greek mythology in the last century. Famous British actors such as Lily James participated in the fashion show and took pictures. The British newspaper The Telegraph praised the show, saying that the costumes full of Greek cultural elements were displayed in ancient Greek artifacts, which both "paid homage to the classics" and highlighted modern design.
However, the "tribute to the classics" show failed to receive praise from the Greek side. Agence France-Presse said on the 18th that Greek Minister of Culture and Sports Menzoni issued a statement late on the 17th, saying that the fashion show once again proved that the British Museum not only has no respect for ancient Greek antiquities, but also ignores the universal values conveyed by these cultural relics. Menzoni also called for the Parthenon stone sculptures to be returned to Greece as soon as possible, saying that the exhibition environment at the British Museum was deteriorating day by day.
The scene of the fashion show.
The Parthenon stone carvings were looted from the Parthenon in Greece by British diplomats in the early 19th century, according to AFP. The Greek side has been demanding that Britain return the antiquities, which Britain has "stolen" from Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said in an interview with the BBC that the fact that these artifacts cannot be returned to his homeland is as distressing as tearing the famous painting "Mona Lisa" in half. In November last year, the scheduled meeting between the two was cancelled because British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was unhappy with Mitsotakis's statement.
Is it a fashion statement or is it culturally insensitive? The show was supposed to bridge the gap between the ancient and the present, and made a bold statement through the choice of venue, but it reignited the ethical debate about the ownership of the Parthenon stonework, according to the "bnn breaking" report.
WeChat official account).