Today is the world day of AIDS awareness.
On this day in 1993, I happened to drive through Place de la Concorde at about 8:45 in the morning. I thought I was seeing things. The huge Egyptian obelisk in the middle was sporting a 72-foot-high bright pink condom .
I hurried home to get my camera, but by the time I got back, 20 minutes later, the condom was gone.
It was a stunt by Act Up, sponsored by Benetton and without French government approval. I still don't know how they did it.
Not long afterwards, the old eroded top of the obelisk was replaced by a gleaming golden pyramid to protect it. Probably not a coincidence that the top was made so sharp.
BEFORE and
AFTER
expats are so much brighter....
From Sedulia:
Hmm. I'm not sure I know how to take that, Schuey.
Posted by: schuey | 01 December 2005 at 23:09
I'd never seen that before. Marvellous... I love the thought of the reaction in the palais de l'elysée to that one!
Posted by: oiseau | 02 December 2005 at 11:20
it was just a compliment...
Posted by: schuey | 02 December 2005 at 12:58
That picture is one of the funniest and quintessentially French things I think I have ever seen. Not that AIDS is a laughing matter in the slightest, but the French approach to "awareness" sure gives you something to think about, doesn't it?
I suspect this wasn't what the Egyptians had in mind when they built the obelisk, though...
Posted by: The Bold Soul | 02 December 2005 at 16:49
none!
Posted by: rushabh | 27 August 2006 at 10:48