European Parliament's 'Family' sculpture sparks controversy

The European Parliament's 'Family' sculpture that has sparked accusations of satanism and waste

What does the European Parliament spend taxpayers' money on? In this case, the answer is a work of art that has triggered a flood of criticism. It is 'Family' (2019) by Estonian artist Edith Karlson, a sculpture depicting reptilian or monstrous creatures holding up a glass box containing human figures. The piece is part of the Parliament's Contemporary Art Collection, but its purchase price has not been made public, fuelling suspicions about the management of European funds.

An image that provokes rejection and conspiracy theories

Reactions were not long in coming. The work has been described as "satanic", "Guasonic" and "reptilian" in various circles. The image of the creatures — which some identify as aliens or demons — displaying the humans in a box has led to interpretations that see it as a declaration of power by globalist elites. It is argued that the sculpture symbolises the control of humanity by hidden forces, and that its installation at the seat of European power is no coincidence. Others, more ironically, point out that the work serves to distract attention from the real cost of the purchase, creating a controversy that conceals the waste.

Opacity in the purchase and criticism of cultural management

A central point of the controversy is the lack of transparency. The European Parliament has not revealed the exact cost of the sculpture. According to institutional sources, acquisitions are made through a committee of curators and individual prices are not usually disclosed, which fuels criticism about the use of public money. Meanwhile, the citizens who fund these purchases wonder whether the EU's main mission — legislating — justifies building an opaque art collection. The work, deliberately grotesque and unsettling, communicates domination and captivity more forcefully than the official message of "equality and self-determination" that, according to the curator's note, it is meant to convey.

Art or provocation: the open debate

Although most reactions are negative, some argue that the function of contemporary art is to provoke and generate discussion. Artist Edith Karlson is known for her critical fables antiestéticaturing animal creatures, and the sculpture could be interpreted as an allegory of power or of human fragility. However, for many the problem is not the artistic intent, but the fact that a public institution funds works that most people perceive as repulsive or even blasphemous — and does so without accounting for the cost.

The result is a piece that, far from going unnoticed, has become a symbol of the disconnect between European elites and citizens. As one comment ironically put it: "It's not magic, it's your taxes".