The Guardian reports on a mounting controversy in Denmark surrounding the removal of a 14-tonne statue known as the “Big Mermaid” (Den Store Havfrue). Originally created by artist Peter Bech in 2006 and later relocated to Dragør Fort, the sculpture has sparked widespread criticism for its exaggerated features—especially its breasts.”
Art critic Mathias Kryger branded the statue as “ugly and pornographic,” while journalist and priest Sorine Gotfredsen condemned it as “a man’s hot dream of what a woman should look like,” arguing that such depictions harm body acceptance among women.
Bech defended his work, asserting that the proportions are appropriate given the statue’s size, and suggested it still enjoyed local appreciation. However, the Danish Palaces and Culture Agency determined the sculpture did not align with the historical character of the 1910 Dragør Fort and initiated its removal. Berlingske’s debate editor Aminata Corr Thrane framed the backlash as an instance of body-shaming, questioning societal norms about female representation in public art.
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