Mermaid statue criticized for 'too big bust' will be demolished

(Dan Tri) - The 4-meter-tall mermaid statue in Denmark is about to be demolished after being repeatedly criticized for creating a "pornographic, ugly" feeling that affects the image of women.

A giant mermaid statue in Copenhagen (Denmark) is about to be removed from public places after receiving much criticism from the public and tourists.

The statue is 4m tall, weighs about 14 tons and is shaped like a mermaid with an "oversized" bust. Many negative comments such as "ugly, obscene" have been made about the statue since its official launch in 2006. Before its launch, the statue was described as "a man's hot dream about a woman".

Giant mermaid statue criticized for having oversized bust (Photo: Jiri Vondrous).

Named "Big Mermaid", the statue is only a few hundred meters away from Denmark's famous "little mermaid" statue. The work has been controversial for many years because of its exaggerated body shape, especially its large bust.

In 2018, the statue was moved to Dragor fortress, located a few kilometers south of central Copenhagen.

According to local media, the Danish Palaces and Culture Authority is now preparing to completely remove the statue. The agency also concluded that the mermaid image is incompatible with the cultural heritage value of the Dragor fortress, which was built in 1910.

Earlier in an article in the Berlingske daily, journalist Sorine Gotfredsen said that the image the statue aims at "is unlikely to encourage women to accept their bodies".

Meanwhile, some opinions say that attacking the statue is no different from "body shaming".

"Do nude women's breasts have to have a standard shape and size to be allowed to appear in public?" one person asked.

Amidst mixed opinions, Mr. Peter Bech, the creator and investor of the statue, spoke out to refute the criticism, affirming that the bust of the work is "proportionate in size".

In a conversation with TV 2 Kosmopol , author Bech commented, "The mermaid has completely normal proportions compared to the size of the statue." He said that, of course, the bust of the statue must be large because it is a large woman.

In the author's opinion, the statue has attracted many tourists to visit and admire, and he believes that the criticism is "completely unreasonable". Mr. Bech also expressed hope that a compromise solution can be found.

The bronze statue of the Little Mermaid has been a symbol of Copenhagen for more than a century (Photo: Trip).

Mr. Bech had previously proposed donating the statue to the fortress, but Ms. Helle Barth, Chair of the Dragor City Climate, Urban and Business Committee, said that the work was “very difficult to fit because it takes up too much space.”

Copenhagen is famous for its Little Mermaid statue - a bronze sculpture created in 1913 by artist Edvard Eriksen.

The work is inspired by the character of the mermaid who transformed into a human in the fairy tale of the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen.

For over a century, the Little Mermaid statue has been Denmark’s most popular tourist attraction, with over a million visitors every year. Visitors often walk along the coast to see the statue or take a boat to admire it.

In fact, this statue has been the victim of numerous vandalism attacks. Over the years, the mermaid has lost its head twice, its arm once, and has been doused with paint or scribbled on numerous times.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/tuong-nang-tien-ca-bi-che-phan-cam-vi-vong-mot-qua-lon-se-bi-pha-bo-20250806125414249.htm