Cubes. Art in the age of global terrorism

Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael, after having crossed the desert, stopped in search of water. When the woman was hopeless, an angel appeared to her to announce the desire of God to make the child a great nation. Hagar put her child on the floor and, at that moment, a fresh and flowing well of water appeared. God told Abraham to build a shrine there, God's house, the Kaaba, in the most mystical area of Mecca, the heart of Islam. Gregor Schneider has used the Kaaba as the subject of a provocative work with the intention of grabbing people's attention without prejudices towards the Islamic culture, which is now regarded as associated with terrorism. "Cube Venice 2005", which was created on the occasion of the 51st Venice Biennial, could not be installed "for safety reasons". Schneider has accused Italy of having an archaic and sanctimonious mental closure. He has then projected this book, which is the only testimony.