The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, created by Edvard Eriksen and unveiled in 1913, has experienced numerous intentional acts of vandalism spanning several decades.

These acts have varied from physical mutilations to politically charged graffiti, reflecting a complex interaction between the statue as a cultural symbol and broader social and political narratives .

The earliest recorded vandalism occurred in 1964 when the statue’s head was stolen.

This decapitation represented a direct assault on the iconic figure and was a stark form of physical mutilation.

The stolen head was never recovered, and the statue remained headless temporarily before being restored.

The perpetrators were never publicly identified, and the specific motivations remain unclear, with the act primarily interpreted as theft and vandalism rather than political protest .

In 1984, the statue endured further physical damage when one of its arms was cut off.

This incident continued the pattern of physical sabotage but again lacked publicly known perpetrators or expressed motivations.

It contributed to the perception of the statue as a vulnerable cultural icon frequently targeted for extreme vandalism .

Another head theft followed in 1998.

Unlike the first, this time the head was recovered and the statue restored to its original appearance.

Although circumstances surrounding this theft remain obscure, the recovery and restoration signaled efforts to preserve the statue’s cultural integrity.

The repeated decapitations exemplify symbolic use of the statue in acts of confrontation, even if no claims or explanations were disclosed publicly .

In 2003, a more violent act took place when explosives were used to blow the statue off its base, causing it to fall into the nearby harbor.

This escalated the vandalism from mutilation to destructive sabotage.

The use of explosives suggested premeditation and a higher degree of intent, though the responsible parties were not officially identified and no group claimed responsibility.

The statue was retrieved and went through significant restoration to repair the damage .

The nature of vandalism shifted toward graffiti and paint from 2017 onwards, often with explicit political or social protest motives.

In 2017, the statue was doused with red paint to protest whale hunting, linking the statue symbolically to wildlife conservation issues.

The act was performed by activists, though specific individuals or organizations were not publicly named.

This event demonstrated the statue’s role as a canvas for environmental activism .

In 2020, during global racial justice protests triggered by the murder of George Floyd, the phrase “racist fish” was painted on the statue’s base.

This graffiti was a pointed political statement, linking the statue to conversations about racism and systemic injustice.

It implied a critique of the cultural symbol or Danish societal issues more broadly.

The individuals responsible were unidentified, but the event reinforced the statue’s use in public sociopolitical discourse .

The most recent known incident occurred in March 2023 when the base was painted with the colors of the Russian flag—white, blue, and red.

This act was widely interpreted as a political statement supporting Russia amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Danish police launched an investigation, but suspects remain unnamed.

The timing and symbolism emphasized the statue’s role as a forum for expressing geopolitical tensions .

The statue, weighing approximately 175 kilograms, has thus endured a recurring cycle of vandalism characterized by escalating physical damage and shifting symbolic uses.

Its repeated targeting reflects the broader phenomenon of public monuments serving as focal points for social tensions, political dissent, and cultural contestation.

Public and media reactions to these headline incidents have varied but tend to emphasize the statue’s symbolic significance and the societal tensions underlying the vandalism.

For example, the 2003 explosion attack provoked widespread media coverage expressing shock at the brazen destruction of a treasured national symbol.

This incident spurred discussions about protecting cultural heritage sites while highlighting the statue’s heightened vulnerability to politically motivated defacement.

Similarly, the paint protests in 2017 and graffiti in 2020 received considerable attention, situating the statue within ongoing international debates about environmental ethics and racial justice, respectively.

These reactions underscore how mass media frames the statue not only as an art object but as a contested site reflecting contemporary political and social issues.

In summary, the key incidents of vandalism to the Little Mermaid statue are as follows:
- 1964:

Decapitation by theft of the head; head not recovered; no known perpetrators .
- 1984:

Arm severed; perpetrators unidentified .
- 1998: Head stolen again; recovered and restored .
- 2003: Explosion damaged statue and knocked it into the harbor; restoration followed .
- 2017: Red paint poured as protest against whale hunting; activist-driven .
- 2020:

Graffiti “racist fish” painted amid racial justice protests .
- 2023: Base painted with Russian flag colors; interpreted as support for Russian geopolitical position; police investigating .

Collectively, these incidents illustrate the statue’s evolution from a national cultural landmark to a frequent locus of symbolic violence and protest.

The variety of motives — theft, sabotage, political protest, and social critique — speaks to the layered meanings the statue holds across different contexts.

This dynamic has drawn recurring media attention, making the statue a potent subject for sociological and psychological analysis of vandalism’s roots in social tension, identity conflicts, and political expression.

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, created by Edvard Eriksen and unveiled in 1913, has experienced numerous intentional acts of vandalism spanning several decades.

Title:

Content: Danish little mermaid like cornerstone painted Russian flag tricolor
A statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the Danish capital Copenhagen, was deliberately vandalized last night, and the cornerstone below the statue was painted with the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag.
Advertisement
The Little Mermaid comes from the famous fairy tale of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, where the stone beneath the bronze statue is painted in three colors of the Russian flag.
Copenhagen police told Agence France-Presse that since they arrived this morning, "a case of vandalism has been filed" and "local investigations have been launched to trace traces".
It is clear that this means supporting Moscow ’ s position in the Ukraine war.
Some tourists, puzzled by this, took pictures of the damaged statue this morning.
The 175-kilogram Little Mermaid is a work by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, inspired by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen ’ s 1837 fairy tale of the same name.
The statue, which sits next to a relatively secluded waterfront walkway, has been vandalized several times over the years, including two burglaries of its head in 1964 and 1998, and a severed arm in 1984. In 2003, the statue was blown loose with explosives and fell into the bay.
It has also been graffitied and painted several times, most recently in 2020 with the words “racist fish. ”

These acts have varied from physical mutilations to politically charged graffiti, reflecting a complex interaction between the statue as a cultural symbol and broader social and political narratives .

The earliest recorded vandalism occurred in 1964 when the statue’s head was stolen.

This decapitation represented a direct assault on the iconic figure and was a stark form of physical mutilation.

Title:

Content: Russian Flag Painted on Copenhagen's Most Famous Landmark

It's the latest in a long line of attacks on Little Mermaid statue
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2023 10:15 AM CST

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, one of Denmark's most famous landmarks, has been vandalized yet again, this time with the Russian flag. Authorities said Thursday that the white, blue, and red stripes of the Russian flag were painted on the stone the statue sits on, Reuters reports. Police said the vandalism was discovered early Thursday. "We are of course launching an investigation to find out who did it and when and how it happened," a police spokesman said, per Jyllands-Posten.

Denmark, like other European nations, has strongly criticized Russia's war against Ukraine. The small statue, a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital. It has been vandalized many times since it was installed 110 years ago, AFP reports. It has been decapitated twice and was knocked off its base with explosives in 2003. In 2017, it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting. In 2020, during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd, the words "racist fish" were painted on the base, though Andersen scholars said they weren't aware of any racist elements in the fairy tale. (Read more The Little Mermaid stories.)

We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy.
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X

The stolen head was never recovered, and the statue remained headless temporarily before being restored.

Title:

Content: Unknown people draw Russian flag on a statue of a mermaid in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - The iconic Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital Copenhagen was vandalized on Wednesday night as unidentified people painted the Russian flag on its base.
Announcement
An AFP correspondent reported that the Russian flag was painted under unknown circumstances on the stone above which a statue of the Little Mermaid, inspired by the heroine of one of the stories of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, was installed.
Danish police said they were launching an investigation into the incident, without giving any indication of the source of the move, which shows clear support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP: "We are investigating the area in order to find any evidence."
A small number of tourists in the area took pictures of the statue in the port of Copenhagen, which was vandalized on Thursday morning.
The Little Mermaid statue on a largely unfrequented promenade has been targeted several times since it was installed in 1913.
In 1964, the head of the nymph was stolen for the first time without being recovered.
In 1998, a group of vandals cut off the head of the statue again, but it was later restored.
This monument was exposed to the explosion in 2003.
The statue, created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, has also been targeted several times with graffiti or graffiti, most recently in 2020 with the inscription “racist fish ”.

The perpetrators were never publicly identified, and the specific motivations remain unclear, with the act primarily interpreted as theft and vandalism rather than political protest .

Title:

Content: In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag - RIA Novosti, 02.03.2023
Registration was successful!
Please follow the link from the letter sent to
Culture
In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Reuters: In Copenhagen, the base of the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor
© AFP 2023 / Ritzau Scanpix / Ida Marie OdgaardThe Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen with a base painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen with a painted in the colors of the Russian flag base
Read ria.ru in
ZURICH, March 2 — RIA Novosti.
The base of the statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, created on the basis of the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, was painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor, Reuters reported.
The Russian flag was found painted on the basis of a statue of the Little Mermaid in Denmark on Thursday, in what police say is a “case of vandalism ” at Copenhagen ’ s most famous landmark and a popular tourist destination.
As specified, the front part of the stone on which the monument is erected is painted.
At the same time, the police still do not know “who is behind this incident. ”
"The answer is on the statue of an angel."
The most terrible secret of the Vatican is about to be revealed
News feed
0
New firstOld firstFirst
loader
On-line
Title of the material to be opened
To participate in the discussion,
log in or register
loader
Chats
Title of the material to be opened

In 1984, the statue endured further physical damage when one of its arms was cut off.

Title:

Content: Danish police investigate who “spoiled ” the famous monument to the Little Mermaid with the colors of the Russian flag
03.03.2023, 7: 15, Misc
Subscribe to Telegram channel
Subscribe to Google News
Support at Patreon
On the pedestal of the famous statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, a Russian tricolor appeared, says The Guardian.
The Danish police have launched an investigation into such an “act of vandalism ”, which is perceived as a sign of support in the Ukrainian conflict.
AP
In Copenhagen, unknown people painted the foundation of the statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen in the colors of the Russian flag, writes The Guardian.
According to the publication, the tricolor appeared on Thursday night on the stone, which serves as a pedestal for the famous Danish monument.
The police in Copenhagen said that law enforcement officers visited the crime scene and registered an “act of vandalism ”.
The police began an investigation and are trying to find “evidence ”.
The actions of unknown persons are perceived as a sign of support for the Kremlin in the Ukrainian conflict.
The article notes that the statue of the Little Mermaid weighing 175 kg was created by sculptor Edward Eriksen, who was inspired by the main character of the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.
The monument suffered from vandals many times: in 1964 her head was stolen, in 1984 her hand was cut off, in 1998 her head was stolen again, but later returned, and in 2003 the statue was blown up.
In addition, the Little Mermaid has been painted or signed many times.
The last time it happened in 2020, when it appeared the mysterious inscription “Racist fish ”, writes The Guardian.
View commentsNo comments
Privacy Policy - GDPR
Site map →
For information cooperation, advertising and publication of ads, write to the address: [email protected]
Support the project:
UMoney- 410011013132383
WebMoney – Z399334682366, E296477880853, X100503068090
18 + © 2002-2022 RYBINSKonLine: All you wanted to know...

This incident continued the pattern of physical sabotage but again lacked publicly known perpetrators or expressed motivations.

It contributed to the perception of the statue as a vulnerable cultural icon frequently targeted for extreme vandalism .

Another head theft followed in 1998.

Unlike the first, this time the head was recovered and the statue restored to its original appearance.

Although circumstances surrounding this theft remain obscure, the recovery and restoration signaled efforts to preserve the statue’s cultural integrity.

The repeated decapitations exemplify symbolic use of the statue in acts of confrontation, even if no claims or explanations were disclosed publicly .

In 2003, a more violent act took place when explosives were used to blow the statue off its base, causing it to fall into the nearby harbor.

This escalated the vandalism from mutilation to destructive sabotage.

Title:

Content: International
3 Environmental Protesters Attack Dutch Paintings, Sentenced to One Suspended (19: 26)
Three Belgian climate watchers demonstrated last Thursday (October 27) at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts at the Mauritz House in The Hague, Netherlands. One of them stuck his head to the 17th-century painting “The Girl with a Pearl Earring ”, one of them stuck his hand to the wall next to the oil painting and poured tomato soup to the former, and the rest filmed the process.
They were arrested for damaging public property.
A Dutch court on Wednesday (November 2) sentenced two of them to two months in prison, one of them suspended, while the person who poured tomato soup to his partner has not yet been sentenced. (CNN)
Previous / Next News

The use of explosives suggested premeditation and a higher degree of intent, though the responsible parties were not officially identified and no group claimed responsibility.

The statue was retrieved and went through significant restoration to repair the damage .

The nature of vandalism shifted toward graffiti and paint from 2017 onwards, often with explicit political or social protest motives.

In 2017, the statue was doused with red paint to protest whale hunting, linking the statue symbolically to wildlife conservation issues.

The act was performed by activists, though specific individuals or organizations were not publicly named.

Title:

Content: The National Palace Museum broke three national treasures, namely, "Ming Hongzhi's yellow and green double-dragon small bowl", "Qing Kangxi's dark dragon white and yellow porcelain bowl", and "Qing Qianlong blue and flower platter", which took place on February 3 last year, April 7 this year, and May 19 this year.
It was a few months ago, even last year, and as many as three things, no one outside the world knows, it was legislator Chen Yi-hsin who received the complaint, and in the Legislative Yuan, the information was only released.
The National Palace Museum said that there was no hidden information and everything was handled according to the procedures.
Although the Legislative Yuan demanded a thorough investigation and asked the Premier to step down, it was no longer the point, because the cultural relics were damaged, they could not go back to the past, and the porcelain could be repaired, but it would no longer be the same thing, and the damage was often irreversible.
These historical relics passed through the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China, and the War of Resistance Against Japan, from Nanjing to Sichuan, and then transferred to Taipei, taking trains, boats, and even using trucks to carry them across the river.
This indicates that the management of the National Palace Museum has broken down to its roots, and the importance of cultural relics is not as serious as that of the warlords of the early days of the Republic of China.
However, think about it, after 20 years of chronic Cultural Revolution, the fragmentation of culture and education, and the gradual narrowing of the historical starting point back to 1950, what was important before that?
If the Tsai government wants to manage the National Palace Museum in this way, it is better to donate everything to China, they have ended the Cultural Revolution, they already know to protect cultural relics, and give them a knife and a knife, China will be grateful, or give it to Japan, although it is a disgrace, at least the Japanese will not break them.
When the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression came a long way and the times were in turmoil, the former deputy director of the National Palace Museum was solemn and protected by thousands of mountains and rivers, and if he saw this scene today, he would have no words to ask the heavens.
※ The above statements do not represent the position of Wangzhong Media Group ※
# National Palace Museum # National Treasure # Artifacts # Legislators # 3

This event demonstrated the statue’s role as a canvas for environmental activism .

In 2020, during global racial justice protests triggered by the murder of George Floyd, the phrase “racist fish” was painted on the statue’s base.

This graffiti was a pointed political statement, linking the statue to conversations about racism and systemic injustice.

It implied a critique of the cultural symbol or Danish societal issues more broadly.

The individuals responsible were unidentified, but the event reinforced the statue’s use in public sociopolitical discourse .

The most recent known incident occurred in March 2023 when the base was painted with the colors of the Russian flag—white, blue, and red.

This act was widely interpreted as a political statement supporting Russia amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Danish police launched an investigation, but suspects remain unnamed.

The timing and symbolism emphasized the statue’s role as a forum for expressing geopolitical tensions .

The statue, weighing approximately 175 kilograms, has thus endured a recurring cycle of vandalism characterized by escalating physical damage and shifting symbolic uses.

Its repeated targeting reflects the broader phenomenon of public monuments serving as focal points for social tensions, political dissent, and cultural contestation.

Public and media reactions to these headline incidents have varied but tend to emphasize the statue’s symbolic significance and the societal tensions underlying the vandalism.

For example, the 2003 explosion attack provoked widespread media coverage expressing shock at the brazen destruction of a treasured national symbol.

This incident spurred discussions about protecting cultural heritage sites while highlighting the statue’s heightened vulnerability to politically motivated defacement.

Similarly, the paint protests in 2017 and graffiti in 2020 received considerable attention, situating the statue within ongoing international debates about environmental ethics and racial justice, respectively.

These reactions underscore how mass media frames the statue not only as an art object but as a contested site reflecting contemporary political and social issues.

In summary, the key incidents of vandalism to the Little Mermaid statue are as follows:
- 1964:

Decapitation by theft of the head; head not recovered; no known perpetrators .
- 1984:

Arm severed; perpetrators unidentified .
- 1998: Head stolen again; recovered and restored .
- 2003: Explosion damaged statue and knocked it into the harbor; restoration followed .
- 2017: Red paint poured as protest against whale hunting; activist-driven .
- 2020:

Graffiti “racist fish” painted amid racial justice protests .
- 2023: Base painted with Russian flag colors; interpreted as support for Russian geopolitical position; police investigating .

Collectively, these incidents illustrate the statue’s evolution from a national cultural landmark to a frequent locus of symbolic violence and protest.

The variety of motives — theft, sabotage, political protest, and social critique — speaks to the layered meanings the statue holds across different contexts.

This dynamic has drawn recurring media attention, making the statue a potent subject for sociological and psychological analysis of vandalism’s roots in social tension, identity conflicts, and political expression.


Since its installation in 1913, Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid statue has been subjected to repeated and intentional acts of vandalism, transforming it into a contested icon of both cultural heritage and counter-cultural expression.

The earliest major attacks involved decapitations: the statue’s head was stolen in 1964 and never recovered, then again taken in 1998 but later returned and restored.

In 1984, the statue’s right arm was severed.

The most dramatic physical assault came in 2003 when explosives blew the statue off its base, sending it into the harbor; it was recovered and repaired afterward.

Beyond physical damage, the statue has frequently been used as a canvas for political and protest messages.

In 2017, it was covered in red paint in protest against whale hunting, symbolizing environmental activism.

Three years later, in 2020, its base was spray-painted with the phrase “racist fish” during a period of heightened global racial justice protests, despite no clear grounds linking the original fairy tale to racism.

This provocative inscription stirred debate over the statue’s meaning and the motivations behind such vandalism.

In early 2023, the statue’s base was painted in the colors of the Russian flag, widely interpreted as a political statement related to the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Police investigations have often failed to identify perpetrators, leaving the motives partly speculative but generally linked to political dissent, activism, or symbolic provocation.

These repeated attacks reveal the Little Mermaid as more than a beloved tourist attraction; it is a living symbol at the crossroads of tradition and resistance.

Each damage incident, whether physical mutilation or painted protest, contributes to a layered narrative of cultural pride, political contestation, and social dialogue—inviting visitors to see the statue not only as a fairy-tale figure but as a stage for ongoing tensions between establishment culture and counter-culture in Copenhagen .

Since its installation in 1913, Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid statue has been subjected to repeated and intentional acts of vandalism, transforming it into a contested icon of both cultural heritage and counter-cultural expression.

Title:

Content: Danish little mermaid like cornerstone painted Russian flag tricolor
A statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the Danish capital Copenhagen, was deliberately vandalized last night, and the cornerstone below the statue was painted with the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag.
Advertisement
The Little Mermaid comes from the famous fairy tale of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, where the stone beneath the bronze statue is painted in three colors of the Russian flag.
Copenhagen police told Agence France-Presse that since they arrived this morning, "a case of vandalism has been filed" and "local investigations have been launched to trace traces".
It is clear that this means supporting Moscow ’ s position in the Ukraine war.
Some tourists, puzzled by this, took pictures of the damaged statue this morning.
The 175-kilogram Little Mermaid is a work by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, inspired by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen ’ s 1837 fairy tale of the same name.
The statue, which sits next to a relatively secluded waterfront walkway, has been vandalized several times over the years, including two burglaries of its head in 1964 and 1998, and a severed arm in 1984. In 2003, the statue was blown loose with explosives and fell into the bay.
It has also been graffitied and painted several times, most recently in 2020 with the words “racist fish. ”

The earliest major attacks involved decapitations: the statue’s head was stolen in 1964 and never recovered, then again taken in 1998 but later returned and restored.

Title:

Content: Danish police investigate who “spoiled ” the famous monument to the Little Mermaid with the colors of the Russian flag
03.03.2023, 7: 15, Misc
Subscribe to Telegram channel
Subscribe to Google News
Support at Patreon
On the pedestal of the famous statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, a Russian tricolor appeared, says The Guardian.
The Danish police have launched an investigation into such an “act of vandalism ”, which is perceived as a sign of support in the Ukrainian conflict.
AP
In Copenhagen, unknown people painted the foundation of the statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen in the colors of the Russian flag, writes The Guardian.
According to the publication, the tricolor appeared on Thursday night on the stone, which serves as a pedestal for the famous Danish monument.
The police in Copenhagen said that law enforcement officers visited the crime scene and registered an “act of vandalism ”.
The police began an investigation and are trying to find “evidence ”.
The actions of unknown persons are perceived as a sign of support for the Kremlin in the Ukrainian conflict.
The article notes that the statue of the Little Mermaid weighing 175 kg was created by sculptor Edward Eriksen, who was inspired by the main character of the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.
The monument suffered from vandals many times: in 1964 her head was stolen, in 1984 her hand was cut off, in 1998 her head was stolen again, but later returned, and in 2003 the statue was blown up.
In addition, the Little Mermaid has been painted or signed many times.
The last time it happened in 2020, when it appeared the mysterious inscription “Racist fish ”, writes The Guardian.
View commentsNo comments
Privacy Policy - GDPR
Site map →
For information cooperation, advertising and publication of ads, write to the address: [email protected]
Support the project:
UMoney- 410011013132383
WebMoney – Z399334682366, E296477880853, X100503068090
18 + © 2002-2022 RYBINSKonLine: All you wanted to know...

In 1984, the statue’s right arm was severed.

The most dramatic physical assault came in 2003 when explosives blew the statue off its base, sending it into the harbor; it was recovered and repaired afterward.

Beyond physical damage, the statue has frequently been used as a canvas for political and protest messages.

Title:

Content: Unknown people draw Russian flag on a statue of a mermaid in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - The iconic Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital Copenhagen was vandalized on Wednesday night as unidentified people painted the Russian flag on its base.
Announcement
An AFP correspondent reported that the Russian flag was painted under unknown circumstances on the stone above which a statue of the Little Mermaid, inspired by the heroine of one of the stories of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, was installed.
Danish police said they were launching an investigation into the incident, without giving any indication of the source of the move, which shows clear support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP: "We are investigating the area in order to find any evidence."
A small number of tourists in the area took pictures of the statue in the port of Copenhagen, which was vandalized on Thursday morning.
The Little Mermaid statue on a largely unfrequented promenade has been targeted several times since it was installed in 1913.
In 1964, the head of the nymph was stolen for the first time without being recovered.
In 1998, a group of vandals cut off the head of the statue again, but it was later restored.
This monument was exposed to the explosion in 2003.
The statue, created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, has also been targeted several times with graffiti or graffiti, most recently in 2020 with the inscription “racist fish ”.

In 2017, it was covered in red paint in protest against whale hunting, symbolizing environmental activism.

Title:

Content: Russian Flag Painted on Copenhagen's Most Famous Landmark

It's the latest in a long line of attacks on Little Mermaid statue
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2023 10:15 AM CST

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, one of Denmark's most famous landmarks, has been vandalized yet again, this time with the Russian flag. Authorities said Thursday that the white, blue, and red stripes of the Russian flag were painted on the stone the statue sits on, Reuters reports. Police said the vandalism was discovered early Thursday. "We are of course launching an investigation to find out who did it and when and how it happened," a police spokesman said, per Jyllands-Posten.

Denmark, like other European nations, has strongly criticized Russia's war against Ukraine. The small statue, a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital. It has been vandalized many times since it was installed 110 years ago, AFP reports. It has been decapitated twice and was knocked off its base with explosives in 2003. In 2017, it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting. In 2020, during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd, the words "racist fish" were painted on the base, though Andersen scholars said they weren't aware of any racist elements in the fairy tale. (Read more The Little Mermaid stories.)

We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy.
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X

Three years later, in 2020, its base was spray-painted with the phrase “racist fish” during a period of heightened global racial justice protests, despite no clear grounds linking the original fairy tale to racism.

This provocative inscription stirred debate over the statue’s meaning and the motivations behind such vandalism.

Title:

Content: In recent months, a surge of environmental activism has spread across the art world, with campaigners going to extraordinary lengths to raise awareness about climate change and environmental issues. However, some environmental activists are resorting to destructive techniques, such as defacing artworks and disrupting art exhibitions, provoking controversy and discussion in the art community. While their commitment to the environment is admirable, the question remains: are these behaviours crucial, or do they harm the exact same cause they are trying to promote?

One of the latest incidents that sparked this debate involves a group of environmental activists infiltrating a renowned art gallery and splattering red paint on a collection of significant and valuable artworks. As well as damaging a well-known and valuable target such as Vermeer’s Girl with A Pearl Earring; the protesters are urging us to evaluate our values and principles.

Climate activists from the “Just Stop Oil” organisation used glue and red liquid paint to deface Johannes Vermeer’s masterpiece in protest of the rising expense of living and the climate issue.

The event occurred in the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague in October 2022, where the artwork is on exhibition, and was captured on film.

Their message was clear: Art must serve the catastrophic nature of climate change and the devastating effects of human activity on the environment. The eco-activists engaged are motivated by a desire to raise awareness about the climate change catastrophe by shocking and perturbing, the role of big oil in hastening environmental deterioration, and the urgency to save the planet.

Safeguarding cultural legacy

Nevertheless, the art community responded promptly and severely. Many others denounced the activists’ destructive behaviour, claiming that there are more constructive methods to increase environmental awareness without resorting to vandalism. The vandalised artwork, some of which were irreplaceable pieces of art, was viewed as the casualties of an irrational and futile protest that harmed the very cultural legacy they wanted to safeguard.

While the intentions of these activists may have been admirable, their techniques have raised serious concerns about the ethics of protest and the limits of advocacy. Is it acceptable to sacrifice art for the cause of environmental activism? Can the objectives genuinely justify the means when it comes to raising awareness about critical global issues?

Some in the art community expressed empathy with the campaigners’ objective whilst questioning their methods. They claim that art is a global language that crosses borders and ideologies and that defacing paintings simply alienates potential allies in the fight for the preservation of the environment. There are worries that such behaviours could harm the credibility of the environmental movement and overshadow the importance of the message they are attempting to express.

On the contrary, some supporters of the activists believe that dramatic actions are required to break the complacency and indifference that frequently dominate climate change discussions. By defacing paintings and interrupting art exhibitions, activists bring the subject to the forefront and demand attention to a cause that is frequently overlooked or minimised in popular discourse.

Furthermore, by staging their stunts in public galleries, where many visitors have mobile phones, activists could be confident that footage and images of the acts would receive instant attention. By using non-corrosive materials and minimising damage to the works under attack, they avoid the public outrage that wilful destruction would elicit.

Distinct ethical quandaries

In their opinion, the shock value of such activities is a powerful instrument for sparking change and rallying public support for environmental protection. They target to appear to ruin something that people respect and connect with culture. Their idea is that if we don’t have a planet, we will lose everything we appear to cherish the most.

The controversy regarding environmental activists’ methods in the art sector is not new. Throughout history, artists and activists have utilised artistic expression and civil disobedience to oppose injustice and promote social change. However, the purposeful defacement of artwork presents distinct ethical quandaries that call into question traditional conceptions of activism and protest.

As the art world deals with the consequences of these activities, it is critical to participate in a dialogue that balances the preservation of cultural and artistic legacy with the importance of addressing environmental concerns. While environmental activists’ purposes may be laudable, the techniques by which they strive to attain their objectives require careful study and criticism.

In conclusion, recent occurrences of environmental activists defacing paintings and disrupting art exhibitions have sparked a debate at the nexus of art, activism, and environmental issues. While their commitment to the environment is valuable, some activists’ techniques have generated ethical concerns and separated the art world.

As the debate continues, all parties must engage in a constructive discourse that respects the importance of art while also recognising the critical need for environmental action. Ultimately, the challenge is to strike a balance that acknowledges both the cultural tradition of art and the urgent requirements of environmental advocacy in an increasingly interconnected and vulnerable world.

Maram Saleh, a Bahraini law student, finds inspiration in the realms of research and writing.

In early 2023, the statue’s base was painted in the colors of the Russian flag, widely interpreted as a political statement related to the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Police investigations have often failed to identify perpetrators, leaving the motives partly speculative but generally linked to political dissent, activism, or symbolic provocation.

Title:

Content: In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag - RIA Novosti, 02.03.2023
Registration was successful!
Please follow the link from the letter sent to
Culture
In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Reuters: In Copenhagen, the base of the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor
© AFP 2023 / Ritzau Scanpix / Ida Marie OdgaardThe Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen with a base painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen with a painted in the colors of the Russian flag base
Read ria.ru in
ZURICH, March 2 — RIA Novosti.
The base of the statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, created on the basis of the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, was painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor, Reuters reported.
The Russian flag was found painted on the basis of a statue of the Little Mermaid in Denmark on Thursday, in what police say is a “case of vandalism ” at Copenhagen ’ s most famous landmark and a popular tourist destination.
As specified, the front part of the stone on which the monument is erected is painted.
At the same time, the police still do not know “who is behind this incident. ”
"The answer is on the statue of an angel."
The most terrible secret of the Vatican is about to be revealed
News feed
0
New firstOld firstFirst
loader
On-line
Title of the material to be opened
To participate in the discussion,
log in or register
loader
Chats
Title of the material to be opened

These repeated attacks reveal the Little Mermaid as more than a beloved tourist attraction; it is a living symbol at the crossroads of tradition and resistance.

Each damage incident, whether physical mutilation or painted protest, contributes to a layered narrative of cultural pride, political contestation, and social dialogue—inviting visitors to see the statue not only as a fairy-tale figure but as a stage for ongoing tensions between establishment culture and counter-culture in Copenhagen .


The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, unveiled in 1913 as a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved fairy tale, is one of Denmark’s most iconic landmarks.

However, beyond its serene and delicate appearance lies a complex history marked by repeated acts of intentional damage, vandalism, and political protest, making it not only a tourist attraction but also a site of contestation and cultural dialogue.

Chronologically, the statue has been repeatedly targeted since at least the mid-20th century.

In 1964, vandals decapitated the statue by stealing its head.

Although the head was later recovered, this act set a precedent for future assaults on the statue’s form.

One of the mermaid’s arms was severed in 1984, an act that provoked public outrage and highlighted the vulnerability of this cherished symbol.

The head was stolen again in 1998, underscoring its repeated targeting, after which it was replaced based on original molds.

A more severe attack occurred in 2003, when explosives destroyed the statue’s granite base, causing it to topple into Copenhagen’s harbor.

This incident attracted significant media coverage and speculation about its perpetrators and motives, which remain officially unknown.

In recent years, the statue has been subject to political protest inspired vandalism: in 2017, it was doused in red paint as a statement against whale hunting policies.

The following year, graffiti labeling it a “racist fish” appeared on the statue’s base, a message that sparked debates about the statue’s symbolism and interpretation, intertwining the statue’s narrative with contemporary discussions on race and representation.

More recently, in March 2023, the stone base was painted in the colors of the Russian flag, an act interpreted by Danish authorities as a political statement amid Denmark’s opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This incident continues the pattern of using the statue as a canvas for broader political expressions.

The recurring vandalism reflects the statue’s complex cultural position.

While it remains a beloved symbol of Danish heritage, its modest size and seemingly understated demeanor contrast with tourist expectations, fueling reinterpretations and critiques.

Contemporary artistic responses, such as alternative portrayals featuring male mermaid figures or golden reinterpretations, challenge traditional depictions, emphasizing the statue’s evolving meaning in modern cultural discourse.

Each act of damage or political defacement can be seen not merely as wanton vandalism but as deliberate expression—reflecting political dissent, environmental activism, or social critique.

These incidents underscore the statue’s role as a living icon central to Denmark’s ongoing cultural negotiations and societal tensions.

In addition to these verified incidents, urban legends and disputed stories have proliferated, especially concerning the statue’s decapitations and bombings, enriching its mystique.

The “racist fish” graffiti, in particular, contributed to contested narratives about Denmark’s cultural self-understanding, pointing to the statue’s significance beyond its physical presence.

For visitors on cultural or counter-culture themed walking tours, the Little Mermaid statue thus offers a rich narrative: a monument where art, politics, and public discourse intersect.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, its tumultuous history invites reflection on the interplay of tradition and change, fidelity and dissent, in Copenhagen’s public space.

In sum, the repeated intentional damage to the Little Mermaid statue reveals its extraordinary place as a cultural flashpoint that encapsulates themes of heritage, protest, and reinterpretation.

Its physical wounds tell a broader story of the tensions and transformations shaping Danish identity, making the statue a vivid embodiment of the dynamic conversations unfolding within the city.

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, unveiled in 1913 as a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved fairy tale, is one of Denmark’s most iconic landmarks.

Title:

Content: Russian Flag Painted on Copenhagen's Most Famous Landmark

It's the latest in a long line of attacks on Little Mermaid statue
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2023 10:15 AM CST

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, one of Denmark's most famous landmarks, has been vandalized yet again, this time with the Russian flag. Authorities said Thursday that the white, blue, and red stripes of the Russian flag were painted on the stone the statue sits on, Reuters reports. Police said the vandalism was discovered early Thursday. "We are of course launching an investigation to find out who did it and when and how it happened," a police spokesman said, per Jyllands-Posten.

Denmark, like other European nations, has strongly criticized Russia's war against Ukraine. The small statue, a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital. It has been vandalized many times since it was installed 110 years ago, AFP reports. It has been decapitated twice and was knocked off its base with explosives in 2003. In 2017, it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting. In 2020, during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd, the words "racist fish" were painted on the base, though Andersen scholars said they weren't aware of any racist elements in the fairy tale. (Read more The Little Mermaid stories.)

We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy.
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X

However, beyond its serene and delicate appearance lies a complex history marked by repeated acts of intentional damage, vandalism, and political protest, making it not only a tourist attraction but also a site of contestation and cultural dialogue.

Title:

Content: Danish police investigate who “spoiled ” the famous monument to the Little Mermaid with the colors of the Russian flag
03.03.2023, 7: 15, Misc
Subscribe to Telegram channel
Subscribe to Google News
Support at Patreon
On the pedestal of the famous statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, a Russian tricolor appeared, says The Guardian.
The Danish police have launched an investigation into such an “act of vandalism ”, which is perceived as a sign of support in the Ukrainian conflict.
AP
In Copenhagen, unknown people painted the foundation of the statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen in the colors of the Russian flag, writes The Guardian.
According to the publication, the tricolor appeared on Thursday night on the stone, which serves as a pedestal for the famous Danish monument.
The police in Copenhagen said that law enforcement officers visited the crime scene and registered an “act of vandalism ”.
The police began an investigation and are trying to find “evidence ”.
The actions of unknown persons are perceived as a sign of support for the Kremlin in the Ukrainian conflict.
The article notes that the statue of the Little Mermaid weighing 175 kg was created by sculptor Edward Eriksen, who was inspired by the main character of the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.
The monument suffered from vandals many times: in 1964 her head was stolen, in 1984 her hand was cut off, in 1998 her head was stolen again, but later returned, and in 2003 the statue was blown up.
In addition, the Little Mermaid has been painted or signed many times.
The last time it happened in 2020, when it appeared the mysterious inscription “Racist fish ”, writes The Guardian.
View commentsNo comments
Privacy Policy - GDPR
Site map →
For information cooperation, advertising and publication of ads, write to the address: [email protected]
Support the project:
UMoney- 410011013132383
WebMoney – Z399334682366, E296477880853, X100503068090
18 + © 2002-2022 RYBINSKonLine: All you wanted to know...

Chronologically, the statue has been repeatedly targeted since at least the mid-20th century.

Title:

Content: Unknown people draw Russian flag on a statue of a mermaid in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - The iconic Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital Copenhagen was vandalized on Wednesday night as unidentified people painted the Russian flag on its base.
Announcement
An AFP correspondent reported that the Russian flag was painted under unknown circumstances on the stone above which a statue of the Little Mermaid, inspired by the heroine of one of the stories of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, was installed.
Danish police said they were launching an investigation into the incident, without giving any indication of the source of the move, which shows clear support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP: "We are investigating the area in order to find any evidence."
A small number of tourists in the area took pictures of the statue in the port of Copenhagen, which was vandalized on Thursday morning.
The Little Mermaid statue on a largely unfrequented promenade has been targeted several times since it was installed in 1913.
In 1964, the head of the nymph was stolen for the first time without being recovered.
In 1998, a group of vandals cut off the head of the statue again, but it was later restored.
This monument was exposed to the explosion in 2003.
The statue, created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, has also been targeted several times with graffiti or graffiti, most recently in 2020 with the inscription “racist fish ”.

In 1964, vandals decapitated the statue by stealing its head.

Although the head was later recovered, this act set a precedent for future assaults on the statue’s form.

One of the mermaid’s arms was severed in 1984, an act that provoked public outrage and highlighted the vulnerability of this cherished symbol.

Title:

Content: Go to contents
The concept of the princess.
Posted June.
01, 2023 07: 34
Updated June.
01, 2023 07: 34
한국어
Recently, there has been a fierce debate on Theater Street due to the emergence of black mermaids.
A beautiful white princess with red hair.
What impressed us was Disney ’ s reinterpretation of the original 1989 animated film.
Hans Christian Andersen wrote a fairy tale about a mermaid princess in 1837, and there is no specific race in the original.
Although the film Mermaid Princess is controversial due to the color of the protagonist ’ s skin, it became a topic about 10 years ago in Andersen ’ s native Denmark when the mermaid princess appeared as a man. The artist duo Elmgreen and Dragsett ’ s “He (Gold) ” (2012 • photo) is the protagonist.
Mikael Elmgren of Denmark and Ingar Dragset of Norway have been working together since 1995.
Constantly demonstrating their work challenging the idea of immobilization, He (Gold) reinterprets Copenhagen ’ s bronze statue of the mermaid princess as a male version.
Edward Erikson made the mermaid princess in 1913 like a world tourist attraction, but because it is an 80 cm tall bronze statue, many people commented that it was very disappointed after seeing it.
Elmgreen and Dragoset painted the mermaid figure in the same position as the mermaid princess with a large expansion to 2 meters in height, and then painted it with gorgeous gold.
Instead of fins have legs, it seems that the love with the prince has succeeded.
But it may be because of the loss of voice, the expression looks sad.
The naked man sitting on the rock with his legs together completely contradicted traditional masculinity.
The mermaid seemed to be in deep meditation, appeared very quiet, cowardly and fragile, and looked uncomfortable.
In traditional art, naked men show off their strong bodies and pose as heroes.
The statue of the mermaid princess, erected in the Italian port city of Monopoli, has also been embroiled in controversy recently.
This time, the princess's oversized body became a problem.
Times have changed.
People ’ s preferences have also changed.
But the idea of Disney ’ s skinny, beautiful white princess still seems hard to change.

The head was stolen again in 1998, underscoring its repeated targeting, after which it was replaced based on original molds.

A more severe attack occurred in 2003, when explosives destroyed the statue’s granite base, causing it to topple into Copenhagen’s harbor.

Title:

Content: Danish little mermaid like cornerstone painted Russian flag tricolor
A statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the Danish capital Copenhagen, was deliberately vandalized last night, and the cornerstone below the statue was painted with the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag.
Advertisement
The Little Mermaid comes from the famous fairy tale of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, where the stone beneath the bronze statue is painted in three colors of the Russian flag.
Copenhagen police told Agence France-Presse that since they arrived this morning, "a case of vandalism has been filed" and "local investigations have been launched to trace traces".
It is clear that this means supporting Moscow ’ s position in the Ukraine war.
Some tourists, puzzled by this, took pictures of the damaged statue this morning.
The 175-kilogram Little Mermaid is a work by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, inspired by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen ’ s 1837 fairy tale of the same name.
The statue, which sits next to a relatively secluded waterfront walkway, has been vandalized several times over the years, including two burglaries of its head in 1964 and 1998, and a severed arm in 1984. In 2003, the statue was blown loose with explosives and fell into the bay.
It has also been graffitied and painted several times, most recently in 2020 with the words “racist fish. ”

This incident attracted significant media coverage and speculation about its perpetrators and motives, which remain officially unknown.

Title:

Content: In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag - RIA Novosti, 02.03.2023
Registration was successful!
Please follow the link from the letter sent to
Culture
In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Reuters: In Copenhagen, the base of the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor
© AFP 2023 / Ritzau Scanpix / Ida Marie OdgaardThe Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen with a base painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen with a painted in the colors of the Russian flag base
Read ria.ru in
ZURICH, March 2 — RIA Novosti.
The base of the statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, created on the basis of the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, was painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor, Reuters reported.
The Russian flag was found painted on the basis of a statue of the Little Mermaid in Denmark on Thursday, in what police say is a “case of vandalism ” at Copenhagen ’ s most famous landmark and a popular tourist destination.
As specified, the front part of the stone on which the monument is erected is painted.
At the same time, the police still do not know “who is behind this incident. ”
"The answer is on the statue of an angel."
The most terrible secret of the Vatican is about to be revealed
News feed
0
New firstOld firstFirst
loader
On-line
Title of the material to be opened
To participate in the discussion,
log in or register
loader
Chats
Title of the material to be opened

In recent years, the statue has been subject to political protest inspired vandalism: in 2017, it was doused in red paint as a statement against whale hunting policies.

The following year, graffiti labeling it a “racist fish” appeared on the statue’s base, a message that sparked debates about the statue’s symbolism and interpretation, intertwining the statue’s narrative with contemporary discussions on race and representation.

More recently, in March 2023, the stone base was painted in the colors of the Russian flag, an act interpreted by Danish authorities as a political statement amid Denmark’s opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This incident continues the pattern of using the statue as a canvas for broader political expressions.

The recurring vandalism reflects the statue’s complex cultural position.

While it remains a beloved symbol of Danish heritage, its modest size and seemingly understated demeanor contrast with tourist expectations, fueling reinterpretations and critiques.

Contemporary artistic responses, such as alternative portrayals featuring male mermaid figures or golden reinterpretations, challenge traditional depictions, emphasizing the statue’s evolving meaning in modern cultural discourse.

Each act of damage or political defacement can be seen not merely as wanton vandalism but as deliberate expression—reflecting political dissent, environmental activism, or social critique.

These incidents underscore the statue’s role as a living icon central to Denmark’s ongoing cultural negotiations and societal tensions.

In addition to these verified incidents, urban legends and disputed stories have proliferated, especially concerning the statue’s decapitations and bombings, enriching its mystique.

The “racist fish” graffiti, in particular, contributed to contested narratives about Denmark’s cultural self-understanding, pointing to the statue’s significance beyond its physical presence.

For visitors on cultural or counter-culture themed walking tours, the Little Mermaid statue thus offers a rich narrative: a monument where art, politics, and public discourse intersect.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, its tumultuous history invites reflection on the interplay of tradition and change, fidelity and dissent, in Copenhagen’s public space.

In sum, the repeated intentional damage to the Little Mermaid statue reveals its extraordinary place as a cultural flashpoint that encapsulates themes of heritage, protest, and reinterpretation.

Its physical wounds tell a broader story of the tensions and transformations shaping Danish identity, making the statue a vivid embodiment of the dynamic conversations unfolding within the city.