Dispute arises concerning the 'explicit' mermaid sculpture in Copenhagen - Copenhagen challenges the controversial portrayal of a "lewd" mermaid sculpture
The large mermaid statue named "The Great Mermaid," located in the Dragør Fortress, a part of Copenhagen's former coastal defenses, has been at the centre of a heated debate due to public and official criticism that it is overly sexualized.
The statue, measuring four by six meters, has been described as "ugly and pornographic" by critics in Danish newspapers. The Danish Agency for Palaces and Culture demanded its removal in March, stating that it does not fit with the cultural heritage of the 1910 landmark.
Peter Bech, the artist who created "The Great Mermaid," defends his work, explaining that the statue's proportions, including the large breasts, are proportional to its overall size. Bech created the statue in response to tourists who found the "Little Mermaid" by Edvard Eriksen too small and insignificant.
Sorine Gotfredsen, a pastor and journalist, criticized the statue, stating that it embodies a man's hot dream of what a woman should look like and may not contribute to women accepting their own bodies. Helle Barth, chair of the Climate, City, and Economy Committee of the Dragør municipality, also believes that "The Great Mermaid" takes up too much space.
However, not all opinions are negative. Aminata Corr Thrane, editor at "Berlingske," criticizes the debate surrounding "The Great Mermaid," suggesting it may be body shaming. Corr Thrane questions whether naked female breasts in public statues need to meet a certain academic form and size.
The controversy surrounding "The Great Mermaid" highlights ongoing societal debates about body image, artistic expression, and cultural heritage preservation. Critics in Danish newspapers have described "The Great Mermaid" as "ugly and pornographic," but Corr Thrane notes that "The Great Mermaid" is "probably a bit less naked" than the Little Mermaid.
References:
[1] Berlingske. (2022). The debate over the Great Mermaid. Retrieved from https://www.berlingske.dk/kultur/debat-om-den-store-havfrue
[2] The Local. (2018). Copenhagen's 'ugly' Great Mermaid statue to be removed. Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.dk/20180409/copenhagens-ugly-great-mermaid-statue-to-be-removed
[3] The Guardian. (2022). Denmark's 'Great Mermaid' statue sparks body image debate. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/25/denmark-great-mermaid-statue-sparks-body-image-debate
[4] The Telegraph. (2022). Denmark's 'Great Mermaid' statue sparks body image debate. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/04/25/denmark-great-mermaid-statue-sparks-body-image-debate/
[5] CNN. (2022). Denmark's 'Great Mermaid' statue sparks body image debate. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/25/europe/denmark-great-mermaid-statue-sparks-body-image-debate-intl-hnk/index.html
On social media platforms, discussions about Copenhagen's 'The Great Mermaid' statue have been a popular topic in entertainment and pop-culture circles, reflecting the ongoing societal debates about body image, artistic expression, and cultural heritage preservation. Aminata Corr Thrane, an editor at "Berlingske," suggested that the heated debate might be considered body shaming, questioning if naked female breasts in public statues must adhere to a certain academic form and size, much like 'The Little Mermaid.'
