‘Ugly and pornographic' Big Mermaid statue to be removed from Danish heritage landmark
The Den Store Havfrue – the Big Mermaid – was first erected at Langelinie Pier in the Danish capital in 2006, near its famed Little Mermaid counterpart.
After locals denounced it as 'the fake and vulgar mermaid' in 2018, the 14-tonne (14,000kg) sculpture was relocated to Dragør Fort, which served as one of Copenhagen's sea fortifications in 1910.
The Big Mermaid's days outside the fort are numbered, according to a report by The Guardian, following public fury concerned with the size of the statue's breasts.
'Erecting a statue of a man's hot dream of what a woman should look like is unlikely to promote many women's acceptance of their own bodies,' priest and journalist Sorine Gotfredsen wrote in Danish newspaper Berlingske.
'It's truly uplifting that many find the statue vulgar, unpoetic, and undesirable, because we're suffocating in overbearing bodies in public space.'
Art critic at Danish daily newspaper Politiken, Mathias Kryger, deemed the statue 'ugly and pornographic'.
The sculpture – designed and commissioned by Peter Bech – will now be removed from the site by the Danish agency for palaces and culture because of its failure to align with the Dragør Fort's cultural heritage.
Asked about the furore, Mr Bech reportedly told Berlingske that the mermaid's breasts are 'of proportional size' to its four-by-six-metre scale.
The paper's debate editor, Aminata Corr Thrane, similarly argued that the scrutiny of the mermaid's breasts was an act of body shaming.
'Do naked female breasts have to have a specific academic shape and size to be allowed to appear in public?' Ms Corr Thrane wrote, pointing out that the statue was 'arguably a bit less naked' than the Little Mermaid.
'On the other hand, she has bigger breasts, and that's probably where the problem lies.
'Perhaps the two statues – the Big and the Little Mermaid – represent two sides of woman, and the eternal tug of war about what a real woman is. And perhaps even what a wrong woman is.'
Mr Bech's statue 'was meant to be big in contrast to the famous Little Mermaid', author Philip Jepsen wrote on mermaidsofearth.com, 'but it never achieved the iconic status and stature of the smaller famous sculpture, or recognition as great art'.
The latter, which is made of bronze and granite and was created by Edvard Eriksen in 1913, is based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale of the same name, and is arguably one of Denmark's most famous landmarks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
a day ago
- SBS Australia
From 'The Handmaid's Tale' to 'Smilla's Sense of Snow': Director Amma Asante on heroines in hostile worlds
Danish author Peter Høeg's beloved crime novel Smilla's Sense of Snow took the world by (snow) storm when it was published in 1992. It remained on The New York Times ' best-seller list for 26 weeks and was praised by the publication in 2018 as the 'gateway' novel that introduced the world to Nordic noir. The story is, in some ways, unconventional: while it has the usual hallmarks of a Scandi crime novel, it also delves into postcolonialism, environmentalism and even a touch of science fiction. It's a thoughtful read, cerebral and didactic, with a healthy respect for First Nations' connection to land and ancestors – perhaps unexpected for a best-selling crime thriller set in Copenhagen. In 1993, Smilla's Sense of Snow was named by both Time and Entertainment Weekly as book of the year. Translated into more than a dozen languages and adapted into a film in 1997, it's not a stretch to call this novel 'iconic' – and now it's been adapted into a sleek, futuristic dystopia for a generation who will find its themes even more resonant in our rapidly heating world. Told in six episodes, the new series of the same name stars Filippa Coster-Waldau as the titular Smilla Jasperson, a cynical and obstinate half-Greenlander, half-Danish woman who unravels a conspiracy after investigating the suspicious death of her young Inuk neighbour. The adaptation is co-created by BAFTA-winning director and actor Amma Asante, who felt an instant connection with Smilla and knew this was an unlikely heroine that young women today would resonate with. 'I read the book during lockdown, around about the time that the Black Lives Matter marches were happening all around the world, and also my mom had just died as well,' Asante tells SBS. 'Smilla made me feel like I had agency in a world that was struggling a lot, and it was something to do with the way that she looked at and observed the world. She clearly carries baggage from the loss of her own mother, who's passed away. She's had to learn to be a woman without the guidance of her mom, and yet somehow, she's navigating that. I really identified with her. Being able to find a character who is a woman of colour – she's Inuit – but she's also a hero in her own right, an unexpected hero, really just fascinated me.' Smilla searches for answers. Credit: Constantin Film Smilla is, to put it rather plainly, an angry woman. She is frustrated with the injustice of the world, disenfranchised with academia (she's a scientist), and disconnected from her Inuk community after being moved from Greenland to Copenhagen as a child. She wants so badly for the world to be fair, but it isn't, and this is simply unacceptable. It's this fire burning quietly inside her which gives Smilla the strength to pursue justice and truth-telling at great risk to herself – and so, a heroine is born. 'I think that a lot of people will be able to identify with her in a way that perhaps they haven't identified before with other types of heroes,' Asante says of Smilla's stubborn refusal to let the world burn. 'The fact that she has this quiet sense of justice, this ability for things to both make sense but she also understands when things don't. She understands human nature as well, and she can laugh at human nature and she can empathise with human nature, all at the same time. She's so human to me, and I love that.' Amma Asante (right) on set with Filippa Coster-Waldau. Credit: Andrej Vasilenko Smilla's world is also fascinating, with glossy, minimalist aesthetics of a digital future gone wrong. Asante took some interesting creative liberties with the original source material for Smilla's Sense of Snow , most notably setting it in the (not so distant) year of 2040 where surveillance capitalism is the norm, energy is a precious commodity that must be rationed and white ethnonationalism is on the rise. Citizens must wear sleek government-mandated bodycams on their lapels like minimalist brooches, and apartments announce the ID of anyone who enters thanks to their recognition technology. It's a future that sounds horrifying, but believable and immersive thanks to Asante's experience working on A Handmaid's Tale . 'It was really important for me to look at Peter Høeg's book that was really relevant and significant to me at the time that I read it – it was ahead of its time to a certain extent when it was written in 1993, but, like, 30 years has happened in between. Social media, the communications revolution, all this stuff has happened in terms of the way that we relate to each other and the way that we relate to ourselves,' Asante says. 'When you're working on Handmaid's Tale , you are submerged in that world, you feel it from your ankles to the top of your head. I wanted to be able to create a world that was so detailed and so specific to [ Smilla's Sense of Snow ] that we knew that we had to tell it in very, very layered details. We tried our best to think of everything.' Filippa Coster-Waldau in 'Smilla's Sense of Snow'. Credit: Lukas Salna Smilla represents the new generation and the struggles they are facing now and which will be at the forefront of the next decade – climate change, surveillance capitalism, white supremacy and fascism. It's a shift from the usual work of Asante, who is best known for her historical dramas Belle (2013), loosely inspired by the 1779 painting of Dido Elizabeth Belle, and A United Kingdom (2016), a biographical drama about the romance between Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana and his wife Ruth Williams Khama. However, Asante managed to make Smilla's Sense of Snow her own by setting the events of the story in a world 'we would recognise' – a sleek, stylish, mildly terrifying dystopian future which she cheekily notes 'kind of makes it a period drama, in a different way'. Indeed, it does – and hopefully only a fictional one. Smilla's Sense of Snow is airing Wednesday nights on SBS, with episodes also available each week at SBS On Demand. Stream free On Demand Smilla's Sense Of Snow series • crime M series • crime M
News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
Denmark's Crown Prince Christian, 19, parties with friends at popular music festival
There was a touch of royalty at one of Denmark's biggest summer music festivals, with Queen Mary's son spotted in the mosh pit. Crown Prince Christian of Denmark swapped the crown for some festival gumboots as he attended Smukfest held at Skanderborg's historic forest last week, with the young royal seen rocking out among thousands of other revellers. Casually dressed in a checked shirt and white tee, the 19-year-old was seen dancing and singing in the crowd as the likes of Danish chart-toppers such as Anton Westerlin, Arcando and Aqua headlined the annual music festival, which is hailed as the second-largest festival in Denmark. This is the second time in as many months that Prince Christian, who is the son of King Frederik X, was spotted letting loose at a music festival with his mates. The teenager, who is first in line to the Danish throne, was spotted at Denmark's popular Roskilde Festival last month wearing a white tee and oversized denim shorts with what appeared to be a beer in his hand. Prince Christian's festival appearances come after his parents, King Frederik and Aussie-born Queen Mary, announced last year that their eldest son would be taking some time off before commencing his university studies to 'develop and experience the world'. Last September, the prince embarked on an extended stay in East Africa where he worked on two farms doing both practical and administrative tasks. Upon his return to Denmark, he began his four-month military service at the Guard Hussar Regiment in February, and this month he started his lieutenant training. 'The training starts in early August 2025 and lasts one year plus a subsequent period of practical service as a platoon leader,' read a press released shared by The Royal House. In the meantime, the young prince is enjoying some down time before his training recommences. Along for the ride is his sister, Princess Isabella, who was also seen at Smukfest. The 18-year-old, who is third in line to the throne, raised eyebrows with her choice of T-shirt with lyrics from Danish band Suspekt emblazoned on the front, which reportedly translates to 'f**ked him yesterday' in English. While some called Isabella out for failing to 'maintain a certain standard' with her choice of attire, others praised her and Christian for modernising the monarchy. Danish TV presenter Jim Lyngvild said her choice of outfit was 'the best PR move for the Royal House in many years'. 'I LOVE that our royal youngsters also have personality and courage – and don't follow the neat pleated flow,' he wrote on Facebook. 'The time of the ladies in the hat is over, Princess Isabella is in.' The teenager also broke tradition in April when sitting for her 18th birthday portrait. To mark the milestone birthday, Isabella wore a traditional ceremonial sash and a ball gown for the official portrait, however in one of the shots posted to Instagram, she was seen smiling while holding her mobile phone – a true symbol of her Gen Z status.
Daily Telegraph
6 days ago
- Daily Telegraph
Queen Mary's daughter Princess Isabella raises eyebrows with rogue festival outfit
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News. Queen Mary and King Frederik's eldest daughter has done something 'no other princess would dare' do, according to a Danish royal commentator. Princess Isabella, 18, was photographed with some friends at popular local music festival Smukfest, in Skanderborg on Thursday. Her older brother Prince Christian, 19, was also at the event, but it was Isabella's black band tee that's attracted the attention of some commentators in Denmark. The princess was seen wearing a yellow bucket hat and a T-shirt whose slogan translates to 'F**ked him yesterday'. The top is merch from Danish hip hop group, Suspekt - whose music is so dark it's often described as horrorcore - and is a variation their song titled 'F**ked her yesterday'. The choice has ruffled some feathers, with Danish political commentator Jarl Cordua, reminding the teen that there are limits to appropriate royal behaviour. 'I'm in favour of the royals letting loose a little. They always have. They should definitely be allowed to. BUT. There are limits,' he said. 'Isn't that exactly what their [the royal family's] job is? To maintain a certain standard? To show some kind of style? Dignity? I doubt that everyone thinks that's the case when a royal celebrates promiscuity on a shirt. 'We'll probably live with that shirt, but I wouldn't recommend making it a habit. Being royal is an obligation. And it's probably time for someone to tell her [Isabella] that.' Never miss the latest entertainment news from Australia and around the world — download the app direct to your phone. Official portraits of the teen were released on her 18th birthday. Picture: Steen Evald, Kongehuset Meanwhile Danish TV presenter Jim Lyngvild said he was taken aback by the outfit at first and thought 'Oh, you can't do that,' but he's since come around to it and actually thinks it's great PR for the royal family. 'It shows that there is a new king who has, in many ways, an ordinary family that represents today's values,' he said. 'The time of the ladies in the hat is over, Princess Isabella is in. 'I LOVE that our royal youngsters also have personality and courage – and don't follow the neat pleated flow. 'There are no other princesses in the world who would dare to do that.' Princess Isabella and her brother Prince Vincent with King Frederik and Queen Mary last month. Picture Instagram Kongehuset @detdanskekongehus, Isabella recently celebrated her 18th birthday with the release of official photos in an amber ballgown. She and her brother are expected to remain at Smukfest until the festival ends on Sunday. Originally published as Queen Mary's eldest daughter Princess Isabella raises eyebrows with unconventional festival outfit
