I Like the Mermaid Statue

George1959 said:
Denmark got a problem with a Mermaid statue.
I don't like to comment on it, it's just too ridiculous.

'Pornographic' mermaid statue to be removed in Denmark
Click to expand...

I find it interesting that the artist ‘P. Bech’ feels that because women are ‘underrepresented’ in art … his sculpture, “is placed in its high position to show that women have gained an independent place over time and to show the respect that women have achieved.”

Now, I realize Mr. Bech means well, by saying what he said in defense of his artwork; Yet, is it possible that his ‘artwork’ says completely the opposite about him; in that he’s (unconsciously) exploited, objectifyied, dehumanized, women by reducing them to physical attributes? As, a sexual object?

I think the reason this sculpture evokes controversy is that it leans towards disrespect by attempting to ‘normalize objectification’.

I like that the mermaid is full-figured. However, I don’t find her enchanting nor quite as mythical; for the reasons stated. Had the artist created space to capture our imagination, by perhaps veiling ‘the known’ with a few ‘longer’ curling strands of hair to tease the eye … the overall effect, might have spawned deeper, more persuasive reflection, towards mermaid mythology vs. women’s external anatomy.
 

I took a photo with my phone of my favorite statue I have at home which I bought somewhere in 1999, but I'm not good with cameras and didn't capture it well. The first photo below is the one I took today, but sorry, it's not good, and I failed to capture the torch she's holding at the top.

mine.jpg

So I ran my photo (the one above) through Google Lens to try to find a better image and some information on it, and the picture below came up, which appears to be the same statue, even though it's more bronze instead of dark like the one I have.

Ernst.jpg
The artist appears to be Ernst Gustav Jager, 1880 - 1954, but I can't find a lot of background on him. [Another source shows Ernest Rancoulet... so who knows.] I have no idea if this piece is valuable or not, but it doesn't matter since I have no plans to sell it. It's on my mantle and over the years, the most conservative people have visited our home and commented on it, but not one of them has ever described it as pornographic.
 
George1959 said:
If you look at this as 'gross', what do you think of the Botero statue in my hometown Bamberg, Germany?

sculpture-lying-fat-naked-woman-bamberg-germany-fernando-botero-bavaria-54811377.jpg
Click to expand...
She has about the same physique as half the women in my state...:cautious:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top