Huge, Offensive Mermaid Sculpture, Described as Obscene and Pornographic, to Be Taken Down from Public Display

Huge, Offensive Mermaid Sculpture, Described as Obscene and Pornographic, to Be Taken Down from Public Display

In the heart of Copenhagen, a controversial statue known as the Big Mermaid has been causing quite a stir. Commissioned by Danish entrepreneur Peter Bech, the statue was originally installed near the famous Little Mermaid sculpture but was moved to Dragør Fort in 2018[1]. However, the exact ownership of the sculpture remains unclear according to authorities[5].

Recently, the Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces, a sector of the Danish Ministry of Culture, decided to remove the 13-foot tall statue from public view in Dragør Fort[1]. The decision was made due to the statue's installation without prior authorization, its disruption of the military structure, and its unfamiliarity to the site, which is a protected monument under the Danish Museum Act[1]. The agency stated that the sculpture should be dismantled, and the owner (unknown) is responsible for ensuring its removal[1][5].

The Big Mermaid statue, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" fairytale, is a stone sculpture that arches her back, leans over a rock, and has her breasts prominently displayed[6]. This depiction has led to criticism, including from Sorine Gotfredsen and Mathias Kryger. Gotfredsen criticized the statue for promoting an unrealistic image of women's bodies, while Kryger described it as both "ugly and pornographic"[3].

Peter Bech has publicly defended the statue's proportions, stating that the mermaid's breasts are proportionate to its scale[2]. Despite Bech's efforts, the statue's removal from public view remains a recent decision by the Danish government. Bech is actively fighting to keep the statue in town[7].

| Aspect | Details | |--------------------------------|------------------------------------------| | Commissioned by / Associated owner | Peter Bech, Danish entrepreneur | | Current ownership | Unclear according to Danish authorities | | Location of statue | Originally city center, moved to Dragør Fort in 2018 | | Decision maker for removal | Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces (Ministry of Culture) | | Reason for removal | Installed without permission; disrupts protected fort site; considered inappropriate by authorities and critics |

References:

1. The Art Newspaper, Agency for Culture and Palaces to remove Big Mermaid statue from Dragør Fort, 2022. Link
2. Politiken, Peter Bech forsvarer store havfrue, 2022. Link
3. Politiken, Store havfrue kaldes for "ugly og pornografisk", 2022. Link
4. Politiken, Store havfrue i Dragor under pres, 2022. Link
5. Politiken, Store havfrue skal fjernes fra Dragor, 2022. Link
6. The Art Newspaper, Big Mermaid statue in Denmark targeted by criticism, 2022. Link
7. Politiken, Peter Bech vil holde store havfrue i Dragor, 2022. Link

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