In a surprising move that’s ignited passionate debate across Denmark, the Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces has announced it will permanently remove a controversial 14-ton mermaid statue due to its supposed incompatibility with local heritage values.
The statue, designed by artist and businessman Peter Bech, has stood in Dragør since 2018 after being relocated from its original 2006 location near Copenhagen’s iconic Little Mermaid statue. Unlike the modest bronze figure beloved by tourists, this newer version stands about four meters tall, made from stone, and features notably voluptuous proportions.
“The statue has perfectly normal proportions relative to its size. Of course the chest will appear larger on a larger woman,” Bech told the media, dismissing criticism as “completely nonsensical.” He emphasized he hopes to reach a compromise to preserve the artwork, which some locals reportedly adore.
However, not everyone shares Bech’s sentiment.
Art critic Mathias Kryger, writing for Politiken, labeled the statue as “pornographic”, while journalist Sorine Gotfredsen in Berlingske criticized it for perpetuating unrealistic ideals of the female form: “A statue modeled after men’s erotic fantasies of women’s bodies will not make real women love themselves more.” Many have echoed concerns that such exaggerated depictions contribute to subtle, normalized body-shaming.
This is not the first time the statue has stirred controversy. Even during its early years in Copenhagen, it drew sharp criticism and was eventually moved to Dragør. Though some residents still express affection for the figure, government officials insist that the statue is too large, too dominant, and incompatible with the historical setting of the 1910 Dragør Fortress.
The debate has even sparked international comparisons, most notably to a 2023 Italian mermaid statue in Monopoli that faced ridicule for similarly exaggerated physical features “a backside too large and a chest like footballs,” as some critics put it.
Despite Peter Bech’s efforts to gift the statue to the local government, authorities have declined, citing spatial concerns and poor landscape integration. As dismantling plans progress, the larger conversation remains: What is the line between artistic freedom and responsible representation?
And amid this discussion, the voices of women artists, critics, citizens are rising louder, demanding greater sensitivity in public representations of the female body. This cultural moment is not just about one statue, but about whose bodies are celebrated, how, and by whom.
Sources: Znews