05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Why a row has broken out over a ‘pornographic' statue
A large mermaid statue in Denmark, known as the 'Big Mermaid', is scheduled for removal from public view following criticism describing it as 'ugly and pornographic'.
The 13ft tall statue, unveiled in Copenhagen in 2006 and later moved to Dragør Fort in 2018, has long been controversial due to its exaggerated figure and large breasts.
Denmark's agency for palaces and culture concluded that the statue does not align with the cultural heritage of the 1910-era fort, prompting its decision for removal.
Journalist Sorine Gotfredsen described the statue as 'a man's hot dream of what a woman should look like', while art critic Mathias Kryger labelled it 'ugly and pornographic'.
Peter Bech, the statue's designer, defended his creation, asserting that the breasts are a 'proportional size' for a large woman and that the artwork attracts tourists.
