French culture minister blasts vandalism of 'sex toy' sculpture
A giant inflatable sculpture that caused outrage in Paris for its resemblance to a sex toy will not be reinstalled after being reduced to a flaccid heap by vandals, its creator said.
A giant inflatable sculpture that caused outrage in Paris for its resemblance to a sex toy will not be reinstalled after being reduced to a flaccid heap by vandals, its creator said.
American artist Paul McCarthy, 69, was slapped three times in the face by an outraged passerby as The Tree was put up on the city's ritzy Place Vendome on Thursday next to a column topped by a statue of Napoleon.
And on Saturday vandals cut a support cable to leave the 24-metre high work - which provoked mirth on social media for its resemblance to a "butt plug" - slumped on the pavement.
It was part of the International Contemporary Art Fair (FIAC) taking place in Paris from October 23 to 26.
The FIAC, which organised for the sculpture to be put up close to the Ritz Hotel, said "the artist was worried about potential trouble if the work was put back up".
Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin blasted the vandalism, calling it "a serious attack on the principle of artistic freedom" as did the city's mayor Anne Hidalgo.