Britain's Queen Elizabeth shown as 21st century icon

Chris Levine, the artist who in 2004 created an acclaimed holographic portrait of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, is back with a set of pictures selected from among the 8,000 or so he took at the original sittings.

Artist Chris Levine talks about his exhibition of images of Britain's Queen Elizabeth at the StolenSpace Gallery in London March 11, 2008. (REUTERS/Stephen Hird)

But this time Levine, who describes himself as a light artist, has manipulated the pictures in a bid to do for the British monarch what Andy Warhol did for Marilyn Monroe.

"The emphasis is modernity. I am putting the Queen into the pop culture," Levine told Reuters as he set about mounting the pictures and accompanying laser light show on Tuesday.

Among the images that go on show to the public on Friday are one with the Queen's face erased, one showing just the back of her head and another with her eyes closed.

Levine said he was inspired by his muse Warhol, whose portraits of Monroe helped make her a 20th century icon.

"I want to do the same for the Queen in the 21st century," he said. "These images are done with real affection. There is no disrespect intended here.

"Showing the back of her head simply means she is in front, leading us," he added. "She has seen some of the images and was enthusiastic. I intend to send her a boxed set."

Buckingham Palace said the Queen was aware of the exhibition, but would not be commenting on it.

"We do not offer any comment on the art itself. We leave it for members of the public, and others, to offer their views," a spokesman said.

Levine had two sittings and two private meetings with the Queen while working on the 2004 hologram, which was commissioned by the island of Jersey to commemorate 800 years of allegiance to the crown.

The title "Equanimity" was his original working title which was supposed to reflect the inner peace he hoped to capture in his depiction of the monarch -- a goal that critics generally accepted he achieved.

Star portrait photographer Mario Testino, a friend of Levine, described the hologram as the best portrait of the Queen he had ever seen, adding that this was because he had never photographed her himself.

Levine said that during his meetings with the Queen she expressed interest in his habit of meditating for two hours a day, adding that he was sure she too found space in her daily life to find inner calm.

"I am sure she meditates in her own way. She is so strong and has been through so much," Levine said. "You can relate to her like your own granny."

The show "Lightness of Being" is at the StolenSpace art gallery in London's Brick Lane until March 23.

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German capital launches "Be Berlin" marketing campaign

In the two decades since the Berlin Wall fell, Germany's capital has transformed itself from Cold War outpost into a hotspot for culture and cheap living, but the city must market itself more, its mayor said on Tuesday.

With a high unemployment rate and dearth of industry due to the exodus of big corporations after World War Two, Berlin has run up massive deficits in the last 18 years and has struggled to integrate the two former cities of East and West Berlin.

On Tuesday Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit took the wraps off a "Be Berlin" campaign modelled on earlier "I Love New York" and "I amSTERDAM" campaigns. He said the 11 million euro ($17.02 million) image makeover would be a catalyst for economic reforms.

"Berlin is already a 'place to be' for creative people from around the world," Wowereit said. "But even if the rhythm of the city fascinates people everywhere, we can and must do more to take advantage of that."

It was the economic stagnation that created the low housing costs that made this metropolis of 3.4 million a magnet for artists, filmmakers, musicians and students from around the world. That mix appeals to the 8 million tourists who visit Berlin each year, bringing the capital about 9 billion euros in revenues. Wowereit wants even more visitors.

"We surveyed people around the world and found astonishingly contradictory results," he said. "People and business leaders in Berlin and Germany see the city as trendy, dynamic and full of life, but abroad it's seen as proficient, orderly and serious."

Through the 1920s, Berlin was one of Europe's most exciting cities with a vibrant nightlife and bustling industry.

But the Nazi regime, World War Two, and Communist East Germany all took their toll on Berlin, a flashpoint for tensions during the Cold War when Soviet and Allied forces faced off.

"The after-effects can still be palpably felt," said Wowereit. "But you can feel the winds of change everywhere after the difficult years behind us. The booming tourism industry is proof of Berlin's international appeal. We've got to take advantage of that."

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Iranian minister urges Dutch to ban Koran film

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister on Tuesday said the Netherlands had the power to stop a right-wing Dutch lawmaker from screening a film about the Koran which has already sparked protests in the Muslim world.

Geert Wilders, who has described the Koran as "fascist" book that incites violence, plans to show his 15-minute film later this month despite mounting unrest and appeals from the Dutch government that it will harm Dutch interests abroad.

"The Netherlands is responsible ...they can stop it," said Mahdi Safari, urging the Dutch government to invoke the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Freedom of speech should not stretch to allowing Wilders to offend the rights of others, he added, citing article 29 of the declaration.

"If such a man will insist on this it is irresponsible for the world and society," Safari told journalists at a briefing after meeting Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen.

The Dutch government has warned the short film might spark unrest and sanctions similar to those unleashed when Danish newspapers published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in 2006.

Asked how Iran would act in response to the film Safari said: "All possibilities are on the table."

"We will show an appropriate reaction," he added.

Dutch businesses fear a loss of trade in Muslim countries and Dutch embassies are braced for attack.

The Dutch government has sought to distance itself from Wilders and plans a diplomatic offensive to contain any fallout similar to the Danish cartoon controversy.

Both Safari and Iran's ambassador to the Netherlands Bozorgmehr Ziaran said they could not predict the reaction of the world's 1.2 billion Muslims to the film, or prevent possible violence.

"Why would you expect us to control 1.2 billion Muslims when you cannot control one person," Ziaran said.

He added Wilders sought to violate Muslim's rights by demonising them, and was a war-monger and troublemaker.

"We do not need further confrontation. Things are boiling. We need wise men to bridge the gaps to reach out to each other...and promote peace and co-existence."

About 15,000 people protested in Afghanistan on Saturday, some burning Dutch and Danish flags in protest at Wilders' film and to condemn the reprinting of the cartoon of Mohammad.

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Bird flu expert urges vigilance in China

A Chinese expert on respiratory diseases says the H5N1 bird flu virus has shown signs of mutation and urged vigilance at a time when seasonal human influenza is at a peak, newspapers reported on Tuesday.

Two cocks are seen at a stall in Shanghai in this February 27, 2008 file photo. A Chinese expert on respiratory diseases says the H5N1 bird flu virus has shown signs of mutation and urged vigilance at a time when seasonal human influenza is at a peak, newspapers reported on Tuesday. (REUTERS/Aly Song/Files)

"When avian flu is around and human flu appears, this will raise the chances of avian flu turning into a human flu. We have to be very alert and careful in March," Zhong Nanshan was quoted by the Ming Pao newspaper as saying.

"People who were killed by bird flu last year and this year were too poor to seek treatment. If you happen to have high fever and pneumonia, you must seek treatment fast," said Zhong, director of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases in China's southern Guangdong province.

Experts are worried about seasonal flu, because it could get mixed up with a deadly novel strain, such as the H5N1 bird flu virus. Such a hybrid would not only become easily transmissible between people, but packed with great killing power.

"The bird flu virus has shown signs of mutation. If infected people don't get treatment in a timely manner, they can die easily," Zhong was quoted as telling reporters on the sidelines of the Chinese parliament's annual meeting.

But World Health Organisation (WHO) spokesman Gregory Hartl played down Zhong's concerns.

"Mutations occur in influenza viruses. Separately from that, the (bird flu) virus continues to be deadly. But there is no new jump in deadliness," Hartl said in Geneva.

Three Chinese have died this year of H5N1 bird flu and they were infected probably through contact with sick poultry. The World Health Organisation said there was no evidence of transmission between humans in all three cases.

HONG KONG SHUTS SCHOOL

In Hong Kong, the government shut a primary school early ahead of the Easter holidays after one of its students, a 7-year-old boy, died at noon on Tuesday. The boy was admitted to hospital last week with flu-like symptoms and authorities are still trying to determine the cause of his illness.

Thomas Tsang, controller of the Centre for Health Protection, said five other pupils at the school have been admitted to hospital for respiratory infection and their conditions were stable. Three samples have tested positive for influenza A, Tsang said, without specifying the strain.

"The school will close early for Easter from tomorrow ... to facilitate disinfection," Tsang told a news conference. But he said there was no reason to close all schools in Hong Kong, although they would monitor the situation closely.

Hong Kong, which lies at the south of China, is in the grip of a seasonal flu peak, with outbreaks reported in a growing number of schools.

A 3-year-old girl died last week of human H3N2 flu and authorities have ordered schools to conduct fever checks and advise those who are unwell to stay home.

Although the H5N1 virus has infected only 372 people around the world since 2003, its mortality rate has been high, killing 235 of them.

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