Outrage in Greece following a parade of the London Fashion Week
Greece has expressed fury after a fashion show at London Fashion Week used a depiction of the frieze of the Parthenon in Athens as decoration.
Controversial use of the Parthenon frieze
The show, held at a London art gallery, sparked backlash in Greece after photos showing models parading in front of a depiction of the Parthenon frieze were shared on social media.
There frieze of the Parthenon in Athens, which dates from the 5th century BCE and is considered a cornerstone of classical Greek art, is one of the most contested objects in art history. Much of the frieze was taken by Lord Elgin, a British diplomat, in the early 19th century and is now on display at the British Museum in London - a continuing point of contention between the UK and Greece.
Greece's reaction
Greece is furious over the use of the frieze in the fashion show and has demanded an apology from event organizers.
“We consider the behavior of the organizer who used copies of the Parthenon frieze for London Fashion Week as an insult to our history,” the Greek Ministry of Culture said in a statement.
Cultural Appropriation Issues
Beyond the dispute over the location of the Elgin Marbles, the controversy also raises broader questions about cultural appropriation and the use of historic artworks in the contemporary world.
Greece, which has long fought for the return of the Elgin Marbles, considered this use of the Parthenon frieze as a new affront on the part of Great Britain.
In the meantime, the controversy continues to generate lively debate within the arts community and beyond, attesting to the sensitivity that continues to surround the issue of ownership and use of the world's cultural heritage.
