German sculptor Marcel Walldorf’s Petra (2010) has the German law enforcers in a huff. Of course, the striking detail we’re all staring at is the riot baton propped against the wall over there.
The award-winning, life-like, silicone and steel policewoman squatting in full riot gear to urinate is a representation of the clash between public and private social spheres, or as interior minister Markus Ulbig calls it, it is “an insult to the police.” The GdP police union stated that Petra “breached the limits of artistic freedom.”
Meanwhile, most Petra visitors at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts like the sculpture. Most of those visitors also don’t go around hitting people with riot gear.
To see it in a less colorful environment of a gallery space go here where the urine puddle is gelatin.
(Images: rebel:art)
hell. officers gotta pee too. the GdP needs to get over itself.
As an American, I'm not an expert on the rights of Germans. But from my point of view, these authority figures (police), are to put in place to protect the rights of citizens, such as free speech, only up until those rights are exercised against their institution.
This happens all the time: I've been arrested solely for flipping off a cop and using profane language. The judge just laughed after my explanation and said me being there was a waste of her time.
I applaud Marcel Walldorf and his keen skill to not only make a interesting piece of art, but to piss off the GdP while doing so.
Very well done, sir!
Still, it's incredibly disrespectful to flip off a cop and swear at him/her.
Sometimes that's the point.
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