Today (I wrote this text on the 9th of May, 2022), I will criticize Taschen for its book about Angela Merkel.
For me, Merkel is indirectly responsible for the war in Ukraine. She was a Chancellor of Germany between 2005 – 2021. She fed Putin billions of EUR currency for sixteen years of her rule of Poland’s western neighbor. For what? For gas and other energy resources. Undoubtedly, Angela Merkel believed trade could bind Russia into a multilateral system and, thus, a rules-based order. She thought it was possible to buy peace and tranquility in Europe thanks to money. She was wrong. Very wrong, I would say. For sixteen years, she helped Putin to build its army. Then, Putin made its deadly troops that attacked Georgia and Ukraine. I do not understand why Taschen published a book about Angela Markel. Undoubtedly, they wanted to give her honors.
For me, the case regarding Taschen’s book about Merkel proves that practically all things (not only those connected with art but also with politics) must be judged by future generations.
I have no doubts that Angela Merkel will be remembered as a German counterpart of Neville Chamberlain – a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom between 1937 and 1940. He is best known for his foreign policy of appeasement. He signed the Munich Agreement in 1938, ceding the German-speaking Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler. Speaking shortly: he helped Hitler start World War II (which began by attacking Poland one year later) in the same way Merkel helped Putin arm his army. I will never buy a book that honors both Merkel and Putin. They are responsible for the chaos erupted in Europe on the 24th of February, 2022, when Russia attacked Ukraine.
Taschen, shame on you!
Now I know why you published books about Soviets posters or architecture without posting anything about, e.g., Zdzislaw Beksinski or Magdalena Abakanowicz. Perhaps I am wrong, but I am almost convinced that Kremlin’s influences are also in the Taschen management board.
