Controversial public art

Public art can sometimes be clever, strange, controversial, brilliant, funny, obscene, vulgar, sensitive, insensitive, magnificent, stunning, an eyesore or just plain awful.    

Unfortunately more than often it can be too abstract or sadly too simple to be appreciated. Some are so hideous it is hard not to cringe and wonder what the artist was thinking. Note Many of these pieces are often commissioned by government departments. Some are spectacularly awful or far too complicated to make any rhyme nor reason, leaving us all scratching our heads in wonder. Some are placed in the most extraordinary locations, doomed to fail, whilst others no matter how remote have become national icons (The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen Harbour). My Squidoo lens is all about the controversial Public Art and let me tell you there is a lot of scandal and back stabbing behind just about every piece of it. If you are interested in public art in general check out my website Public Art Around The World or if you just want the hot gossip stay tuned!

DID YOU KNOW 

The infamous Melbourne sculpture name Yellow Peril caused such an outrage when unveiled in a popular City Square it ended up having to be removed. In the dead of night it was unbolted and moved to a less conspicuous location in a local park, where it was an instant hit with the homeless who made themselves a nice yellow condo. If you want to send a local Melbourne resident into a spin just ask where the Yellow Peril went!

In Berlin the Jewish Holocaust Memorial came to a screeching halt after it was discovered one of the contractors Degrussa was connected with the Nazi's in World War II. Oh yes evidently they supplied the gas for the murder chambers! For more check out Berlin Public Art.  

A Swedish Organization, calling themselves The Militant Graffiti Artists of Stockholm, kidnapped and decapitated one of the Swedish cowparade cows in protest over the fact it had advertisements on it. They sent their demands in a video (which included the kidnapped cow) to local newspaper. Their demands were simple, declare the cows of the CowParade "non art, otherwise hostages will be sacrificed." Needless to say the hostage lost its head.