Copenhagen to remove ‘ugly and pornographic’ mermaid statue

The Danish government has decided to remove a giant sexualized mermaid statue from public view at Dragør Fort near Copenhagen, reports ART News.

The sculpture, known as the “Big Mermaid,” has repeatedly drawn criticism from experts and the public. Berlingske critic Sorine Gottfredsen wrote: “Erecting a statue that reflects a man’s fantasy of what a woman should look like hardly helps women accept their own bodies.” Art critic Mathias Krüger from Politiken described the piece as “ugly and pornographic.”

Made of stone and inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Little Mermaid, the statue depicts a woman with an arched back, head held high, and prominently defined breasts, leaning against a rock. Originally installed near the famous Little Mermaid statue in central Copenhagen, it was relocated to Dragør Fort in 2018.

The fort is a protected historic site under Denmark’s Museum Act. The Agency for Culture and Palaces, part of the Ministry of Culture, oversees approvals for any changes to the area. In an official statement, the agency said: “The statue was installed without permission and violates the fort’s structure, making it an alien element to this location.”

Critics have welcomed the decision to remove the statue. Gottfredsen added, “It’s good that many consider the statue vulgar, unpoetic, and unwanted, as we are already oversaturated with exaggerated body images in public spaces.”

The statue’s owner is responsible for its removal, though their identity remains unclear. Entrepreneur Peter Bech, who commissioned the sculpture, defended it, arguing that the breast proportions match the figure’s scale, and expressed confusion over the criticism. He is actively fighting to keep the statue in the city.