Danish mermaid statue: a man's hot dream or nightmare?

The Den Store Havfrue (the Big Mermaid) in Dragør Fort, Denmark has made a splash with another age-old debate over the female form with some complaining her breasts are too noticeable. The statue could be torn down with its fate yet to be decided.

The Danish agency for palaces and culture claims the Big Mermaid statue does not align with the 1910 cultural landmark yet this comes after many have called for its removal claiming it to be “vulgar” and “pornographic” with one even referring to it as a “man’s hot dream”.

Others have expressed outrage at the idea that it is a statue that body-shames women by representing an unrealistic male idea of the female figure that can discourage women from accepting their own bodies as they are.

The statue designed and commissioned by Peter Bech, is said to be a contrasting representation of the famous Little Mermaid in Copenhagen. Bech defended his work saying that he doesn’t understand the criticism and that the mermaid’s breasts are of proportional size claiming that many have praised his work. 

It certainly contrasted the Little Mermaid, not only in size but also in fame as the Big Mermaid failed to gain the iconic status of its counterpart. 

The Big Mermaid was originally erected in Langelinie Pier, Copenhagen in 2006 but was later relocated in 2018 after locals voiced displeasure at its vulgarity, calling it the fake mermaid. 

Bech hopes to relocate the statue a second time somewhere in the town.