The makeover thats divided a nation - its not often that Macedonia makes international news, so this was fascinating, a glimpse into a country rich in heritage. From a hodge-podge style that was mostly flattened by an earthquake in the 1960s, a Japanese architect worked on the city planning and starkly modern style that although an architect lovers dream, hardly had anything to do with the town or country. And perhaps spurred on by the naming of Liverpool as the 2008 European Capital of Culture (?? - never having been there, I cant say, but never thought of it as a neoclassical haven), Skopje decide to do one better I guess, and commissioned an expensive overhaul of the main city streets and plazas, with neoclassical architecture, statues of its famous citizens, and a bizarre figure purported to be Alexander the Great on horseback atop a giant pedestal with lions carved into it, and neon lights around the edges. Frankly, if it brings tourism, which supposedly it has done, I think its fine. And art critics be damned. Its up to the people what they think, and if it brings in business in much larger numbrs, as it has, then Im sure they are happy for it, even if they complain of excess. Perhaps a less dramatic overhaul would have gone over better with everyone, but you cant please the critics all the time, and the residents were not happy with the concrete blocks that were its former look. And not having access to its original look, it wanted an identity that reflected the countries past glories.
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 18:34:53 +0000