In a surprising move that has turned on the passionate debate throughout Denmark, the Danish agency for culture and the buildings announced that it will permanently remove a controversial statue of the 14 -tonne sirena due to its alleged incompatibility with the values of the local heritage.
The statue, designed by artist and businessman Pietro diHe remained in Dragør since 2018 after being transferred from his original 2006 position near the ICONICA COPENEGENGEN Small siren statue. Unlike the modest bronze figure loved by tourists, this new version is about four meters high, made of stone and has particularly voluptuous proportions.
“The statue has perfectly normal proportions than its size. Of course the chest will appear bigger on a bigger woman”, “ Well He told the media, rejecting criticism as “completely senseless”. He underlined that he hopes to reach a compromise to preserve the works of art, which according to some premises they love.
However, not everyone share WellSentiment.
Art critic Mathias KrygerWriting for Politiken, the statue is labeled as “pornographic”, while the journalist Sorine Gotfredsen In Berlingske he criticized him for having perpetuated non -realistic ideals of the female form: “A statue modeled after the erotic fantasies of men on women’s bodies will not make more women love.” Many echoed the concerns for the fact that these exaggerated representations contribute to subtle and normalized arrangements of the body.
This is not the first time that the statue arouses disputes. Even during his first years in Copenhagen, he raised strong criticism and in the end he was moved to Dragør. Although some residents still express affection for the figure, government officials insist that the statue is too large, too dominant and incompatible with the historical environment of the Dragør fortress of 1910.
The debate has even triggered international comparisons, in particular with a statue of the 2023 Italian siren in Monopoli who faced the ridicule for equally exaggerated physical characteristics “A back too big and a chest like football”, As some critics said.
Despite Peter Bech’s The efforts to give the statue to the local government, the authorities have decreased, citing space concerns and poor integration of the landscape. As the dismantling of the plans progresses, the largest conversation remains: what is the border between artistic freedom and responsible representation?
And in the midst of this discussion, the voices of women artists, criticisms, citizens are increasing, asking for greater sensitivity in the public representations of the female body. This cultural moment does not concern only a statue, but whose bodies are celebrated, as and by whom.
Sources: Znews
