The Little Mermaid statue, installed in 1913 on Copenhagen’s waterfront, is an internationally recognized symbol representing both Danish cultural identity and the iconic Andersen fairy tale.

Its prominence has also made it a frequent target for acts of vandalism that double as statements on current social or political issues.

Over its history, the statue has repeatedly become a canvas or focus for protest and commentary, reflecting changing societal tensions and debates.

Major physical vandalism began with the theft of the statue’s head in April 1964—an act ultimately unsolved, with the head never recovered.

The head was again removed in January 1998, but restored shortly thereafter.

The statue’s right arm was sawn off in July 1984 and similarly reinstated.

On September 11, 2003, explosives knocked the statue off its granite base into the harbor.

In all these cases, despite intensive police probes, those responsible mostly remained anonymous and media accounts describe unknown “vandals” .

The statue has seen frequent graffiti and painting.

In May 2017, red paint covered it in an act against whale hunting, with messages left at the scene clarifying protest motives.

On June 3, 2020, “racist fish” was painted during the global reckoning following George Floyd’s murder; media and scholars noted the act was likely a commentary on broader social justice issues rather than specific elements of Andersen’s story.

On March 2, 2023, the base was marked with Russian flag colors, widely interpreted by journalists as a statement of support for Russia in its war on Ukraine, with the act’s intent inferred from the color pattern .

Over the decades, lesser cases of graffiti—political slogans, environmentalist messages, or color splashes—have also occurred, underscoring the statue’s ongoing use as a platform for visible dissent and symbolic protest .

The Little Mermaid statue, installed in 1913 on Copenhagen’s waterfront, is an internationally recognized symbol representing both Danish cultural identity and the iconic Andersen fairy tale.

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.)

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Its prominence has also made it a frequent target for acts of vandalism that double as statements on current social or political issues.

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.

Over its history, the statue has repeatedly become a canvas or focus for protest and commentary, reflecting changing societal tensions and debates.

Major physical vandalism began with the theft of the statue’s head in April 1964—an act ultimately unsolved, with the head never recovered.

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 head was again removed in January 1998, but restored shortly thereafter.

The statue’s right arm was sawn off in July 1984 and similarly reinstated.

On September 11, 2003, explosives knocked the statue off its granite base into the 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. ”

In all these cases, despite intensive police probes, those responsible mostly remained anonymous and media accounts describe unknown “vandals” .

Title:

Content: In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag - RIA Novosti, 02.03.2023
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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."
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The statue has seen frequent graffiti and painting.

In May 2017, red paint covered it in an act against whale hunting, with messages left at the scene clarifying protest motives.

On June 3, 2020, “racist fish” was painted during the global reckoning following George Floyd’s murder; media and scholars noted the act was likely a commentary on broader social justice issues rather than specific elements of Andersen’s story.

On March 2, 2023, the base was marked with Russian flag colors, widely interpreted by journalists as a statement of support for Russia in its war on Ukraine, with the act’s intent inferred from the color pattern .

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
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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.
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Over the decades, lesser cases of graffiti—political slogans, environmentalist messages, or color splashes—have also occurred, underscoring the statue’s ongoing use as a platform for visible dissent and symbolic protest .


The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has been repeatedly subjected to intentional acts of vandalism since its installation in 1913, with most major incidents receiving widespread media coverage and prompting public debate about the security and symbolic vulnerability of cultural landmarks.

The first headline-drawing attack occurred overnight on April 24, 1964, when the statue’s head was sawn off and stolen.

Despite a considerable police investigation and widespread condemnation in both Danish and international media, the head was never recovered, and no individuals were conclusively identified.

The loss required a new head to be cast from the original mold by the artist’s heirs.

This shocking act was not linked to any stated protest, but it sparked discussion about the accessibility of public art and the risk of further attacks.

It became emblematic of provocations targeting national symbols .

On July 22, 1984, the statue’s right arm was found severed and missing.

The arm was returned anonymously within days, allowing city authorities to reattach it swiftly, minimizing physical damage.

While the perpetrators remained unidentified, Danish media coverage focused on the statue's continuing vulnerability and reignited debates about protecting public monuments.

Security considerations intensified in the wake of this attack .

A repeat of the earlier decapitation occurred on January 6, 1998, when the head was again removed and stolen.

This time, the head was found discarded nearby soon after and was restored to the statue.

News coverage extended beyond Denmark, drawing attention to the recurring targeting of the sculpture.

The public and press called for enhanced safeguarding measures for public art.

The municipality considered but refrained from restricting access to the statue at that time .

In the early hours of September 11, 2003, explosives were used to blow the statue from its granite base, causing it to fall into Copenhagen harbor.

The attack left the bronze statue moderately damaged but structurally intact.

Authorities retrieved and restored it, re-erecting the statue after repairs.

The perpetrators were never caught, and the attack prompted intense scrutiny of monument security.

The event focused both national and international attention on the risks faced by icons accessible to the public and led to municipal reviews of security procedures for the statue and similar landmarks .

On May 29, 2017, the statue was doused in red paint as a direct environmental protest against whale hunting in the Faroe Islands.

Activists claimed responsibility online, framing the act as a statement against animal cruelty.

The paint was cleaned off by city crews the same day.

Media commentary interpreted the incident as an example of using globally recognized art to amplify environmental messages, while local response included renewed calls to find alternatives to the physical targeting of art in protest .

During the world-wide anti-racism protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd, the statue was again targeted.

On July 3, 2020, the base was marked with the graffiti “racist fish.”

Perpetrators were not identified.

Immediate public response included municipal workers cleaning the statue and international media referencing the action as part of a broader re-examination of historic monuments’ symbolism and legacy.

The Danish press and scholars debated the relevance of the accusation, discussing whether or not Hans Christian Andersen's story had racial undertones .

On March 2, 2023, the statue’s base was painted in Russian flag colors, an act interpreted as a possible protest in support of Russia during its invasion of Ukraine.

Danish authorities launched an official investigation, but no prosecutions were immediately made.

Tourists photographed and circulated images of the vandalism, and city maintenance crews removed the paint the same day.

Widespread condemnation followed from both official channels and the public, particularly given Denmark’s official stance on the war in Ukraine .

Media and public reaction to these incidents has typically included calls for increased surveillance of the statue and protection of public art, balanced with concerns about maintaining accessibility.

Coverage regularly situates the Little Mermaid’s repeated targeting within larger debates about the purposes and risks of public monuments.

Calls for justice and restoration recur, as do periodic discussions on whether to move the statue or restrict its access, though it remains in its original harbor setting .

Comparatively, the Little Mermaid’s history of vandalism matches patterns seen at other internationally-known monuments.

Such landmarks are often used as canvases for protest, social commentary, or to provoke public discourse.

The Copenhagen statue is emblematic, not unique, in becoming a focal point for broader societal tensions.

Its role as both a cultural icon and site for expression mirrors the fate of many high-profile monuments globally, which face not only general vandalism but also context-specific acts reflecting contemporary protest cycles, political movements, or social debates.

Restoration efforts and media attention after every incident highlight the ongoing negotiation between safeguarding heritage, ensuring public access, and recognizing monuments' evolving cultural meanings .

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has been repeatedly subjected to intentional acts of vandalism since its installation in 1913, with most major incidents receiving widespread media coverage and prompting public debate about the security and symbolic vulnerability of cultural 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.)

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The first headline-drawing attack occurred overnight on April 24, 1964, when the statue’s head was sawn off and stolen.

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 ”.

Despite a considerable police investigation and widespread condemnation in both Danish and international media, the head was never recovered, and no individuals were conclusively identified.

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
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The loss required a new head to be cast from the original mold by the artist’s heirs.

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 shocking act was not linked to any stated protest, but it sparked discussion about the accessibility of public art and the risk of further attacks.

It became emblematic of provocations targeting national symbols .

On July 22, 1984, the statue’s right arm was found severed and missing.

The arm was returned anonymously within days, allowing city authorities to reattach it swiftly, minimizing physical damage.

While the perpetrators remained unidentified, Danish media coverage focused on the statue's continuing vulnerability and reignited debates about protecting public monuments.

Security considerations intensified in the wake of this attack .

A repeat of the earlier decapitation occurred on January 6, 1998, when the head was again removed and stolen.

This time, the head was found discarded nearby soon after and was restored to the statue.

News coverage extended beyond Denmark, drawing attention to the recurring targeting of the sculpture.

The public and press called for enhanced safeguarding measures for public art.

Title:

Content: Start the next day...
Internet crazy zombie is pushed down by the asshole South American Pavilion: P chart does not rule out a complaint
Reporting by Lin Yueh and Lin Kuan-yin / Tainan
The second day of the special exhibition “Asia ’ s Hell and Ghost ” held by the South American Museum was still full of people. On the first day, tickets were suspended for three times due to too many people.
However, on the Internet, there is a crazy picture of a child who accidentally knocked down a zombie sculpture, and a mother on the side holding her breasts with her hands and looking at her children with a "death gaze".
In this regard, the South American Museum also made an emergency appearance to clarify, emphasizing that it is fake news, the exhibition has not occurred related to the damage of the exhibits, and the netizens of the P chart will not rule out the prosecution.
▲ On the Internet, the zombie on display in the South American Museum was pushed down by children, and of course, it was a spoof of P.
(Photo / Reproduction of self-destruct commune)
The first day of the exhibition attracted nearly 7,000 people to come to the shrine, and the second day of the exhibition was still popular. Many people were willing to line up in the bright sun, and also to witness the true style of the "zombie".
And the site recently reported the "exclusive / sky-high planning amount exposure!"
"Zombies take a special plane to Taiwan" perfect temperature control "pointed out that in addition to the South American Museum and the French side to win the exhibition opportunity, the exhibition area has a total of more than 70 works, including personnel, equipment, equipment, a total cost of more than 16 million yuan, and all works are airlifted to Taiwan, from the plane to the museum, there are strict temperature-control facilities, to prevent rare cultural relics. Other factors are damaged, so the light shipping cost accounted for more than 8 million yuan.
However, only the next day, a suspected zombie sculpture of a child accidentally pushed down the exhibition area, and the child stood next to the demolished zombie sculpture, seemingly knowing that the disaster was imminent, and the child's mother was directly facing the child's "death gaze", and there were suspected staff members on the side to help deal with the relevant matters.
However, this map is actually a "P map" of netizens. In May 2022, when a child and mother in Hong Kong visited a toy store, they accidentally knocked down a $200,000 antenna baby sculpture (the boy destroyed 200,000 antenna baby! The operator "admitted it wrong": the compensation was returned to the parents), and the three "Xiangxi Corpse" of the South American Museum is still intact and not damaged. Wait for the situation.
▲ A boy knocked down an antenna baby costing 200,000 yuan, and his mother was blind.
(Photo / from Facebook / Hong Kong Anti-epidemic Concern Group)
South America Museum also responded to this, in response to the Internet crazy spread of related fake news, affecting the situation, South America Museum does not rule out the P chart netizens to complain.
In view of the spread of such fake news, it will likely affect the subsequent cooperation between the South American Museum and the French side, resulting in the French side seeing some misunderstanding of the photos, thinking that there is damage to the borrowed exhibits, and asking the South American Museum to compensate, which may also cause misunderstanding among the public.
▲ There is no damage to the zombie exhibit at the South American Museum of Asia. (Photo by reporter Wu Shih-lung)
The South American Museum also pointed out that the impact of the P-chart incident may also directly affect Taiwan's international image, causing the international community to misunderstand the quality of Taiwan's people to see the exhibition, and refusing to cooperate with Taiwan again.
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The municipality considered but refrained from restricting access to the statue at that time .

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. ”

In the early hours of September 11, 2003, explosives were used to blow the statue from its granite base, causing it to fall into Copenhagen harbor.

The attack left the bronze statue moderately damaged but structurally intact.

Authorities retrieved and restored it, re-erecting the statue after repairs.

The perpetrators were never caught, and the attack prompted intense scrutiny of monument security.

The event focused both national and international attention on the risks faced by icons accessible to the public and led to municipal reviews of security procedures for the statue and similar landmarks .

On May 29, 2017, the statue was doused in red paint as a direct environmental protest against whale hunting in the Faroe Islands.

Activists claimed responsibility online, framing the act as a statement against animal cruelty.

The paint was cleaned off by city crews the same day.

Media commentary interpreted the incident as an example of using globally recognized art to amplify environmental messages, while local response included renewed calls to find alternatives to the physical targeting of art in protest .

Title:

Content: • En
After Van Gogh ’ s sunflower painting was vandalized by environmental advocates, “The Girl with the Pearl Earring ”
The man who destroyed the painting stressed that the work was well protected, so it was not really destroyed, but because of the actions of the two people, the people at the scene were unable to smoothly watch the "Girl with a Pearl Earring" painting, but also caused continuous boos, did not meet the environmental demands, afraid of countereffects.
Dutch painter Vermeer ’ s “Girl with a Pearl Earring ” has been vandalized by environmental advocates. (Image / screenshot from Twitter)
(Taiwan English News / Lin Yuwen Syndication Report) In London, environmental advocates used tomato soup to sprinkle Van Gogh's painting "Sunflowers", and now some people wear "Stop Using Oil" to the Mauritz House Museum in the Netherlands, sticking quick-drying glue to their heads and "hitting" The Girl with Pearl Earrings ".
In two weeks, environmental activists vandalized paintings by three countries, three museums and three famous painters, first Van Gogh at the National Gallery in London, then Monet ’ s “Haystack ” at the Barberini Museum in Potsdam, Germany, which was sprinkled with potato mud by the German climate movement Letzte Generation, and on the 27th in the Netherlands. A painting was stolen from the Mauritshuis museum.
This time the destruction of the painting is the Dutch painter Vimel 's "Girl with a Pearl Earring", a video appeared on Twitter, you can see a bald man leaning his head on the painting, and take out a suspected quick-drying glue to fix his head, stick to the painting, another man wearing a "stop using oil" jacket, the red cans poured on the bald man, immediately aroused public dissatisfaction.
The man wearing the "Stop using oil" shirt said to the crowd, "When you see beautiful things being destroyed in this way, what do you think?" "You see the earth being destroyed in front of you, what do you think?" They have not been able to meet the demands of environmental protection, and they are afraid of counterproductive effects.
Updated: 2022-10-28 19: 38 GMT + 08: 00

During the world-wide anti-racism protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd, the statue was again targeted.

On July 3, 2020, the base was marked with the graffiti “racist fish.”

Perpetrators were not identified.

Immediate public response included municipal workers cleaning the statue and international media referencing the action as part of a broader re-examination of historic monuments’ symbolism and legacy.

The Danish press and scholars debated the relevance of the accusation, discussing whether or not Hans Christian Andersen's story had racial undertones .

Title:

Content: Entertainment.
2023-10-24 18: 46: 47
The Wax Statue "Wash White" was criticized and discriminated against Dewi Johnson God responded: Lost "Little Fish Fairy"?
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Dwayne Johnson has a perfect muscular physique, dark complexion, and a number of blockbuster movies, making him a Hollywood star.
The Grevin Museum in Paris displayed his wax image yesterday, which was criticized for being racially discriminatory because of its white skin.
Netizens also questioned the French deliberately "whitewashed" Davy, making him white, indirectly insinuating people of color.
"Little Fish Fairy"
Because the wax image received a lot of negative reviews, the black father of David finally made a voice, sharing on the social network comedian James Andre Jefferson Jr. made fun of the wax image, and leaving a message: "I know my son James Jefferson made fun of the wax image, is this how you feel when you lose" The Little Mermaid "Disney animation is a white person. The film stars black actress Halle Bailey, which has been controversial. Devi left a message on IG today, and has contacted the Grevan Museum in Paris to learn about the incident, asking them to modify the skin color of the wax statue.
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On March 2, 2023, the statue’s base was painted in Russian flag colors, an act interpreted as a possible protest in support of Russia during its invasion of Ukraine.

Danish authorities launched an official investigation, but no prosecutions were immediately made.

Tourists photographed and circulated images of the vandalism, and city maintenance crews removed the paint the same day.

Widespread condemnation followed from both official channels and the public, particularly given Denmark’s official stance on the war in Ukraine .

Media and public reaction to these incidents has typically included calls for increased surveillance of the statue and protection of public art, balanced with concerns about maintaining accessibility.

Coverage regularly situates the Little Mermaid’s repeated targeting within larger debates about the purposes and risks of public monuments.

Calls for justice and restoration recur, as do periodic discussions on whether to move the statue or restrict its access, though it remains in its original harbor setting .

Comparatively, the Little Mermaid’s history of vandalism matches patterns seen at other internationally-known monuments.

Such landmarks are often used as canvases for protest, social commentary, or to provoke public discourse.

The Copenhagen statue is emblematic, not unique, in becoming a focal point for broader societal tensions.

Its role as both a cultural icon and site for expression mirrors the fate of many high-profile monuments globally, which face not only general vandalism but also context-specific acts reflecting contemporary protest cycles, political movements, or social debates.

Restoration efforts and media attention after every incident highlight the ongoing negotiation between safeguarding heritage, ensuring public access, and recognizing monuments' evolving cultural meanings .


The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has undergone repeated intentional attacks, reflecting its potent symbolic status in cultural and counter-cultural debates.

The earliest major incident occurred on April 24, 1964, when the statue's head was sawn off and stolen; the head was never recovered and the perpetrators were never identified.

This act shocked Denmark and sparked debate over monument protection, with the incident widely interpreted as protest art .

On July 22, 1984, a group linked to leftist activism severed the statue’s right arm.

The arm was found and reattached within days.

No arrests occurred, but the vandalism generated debate about the statue’s role and prompted increased surveillance .

Another decapitation happened on January 6, 1998; this time, the head was recovered and restored after several days.

The public responded with a blend of frustration and relief, with officials launching an investigation but never identifying the culprits .

On September 11, 2003, explosives knocked the statue off its base into the harbor.

Recovery and restoration followed within days.

This attack triggered intense public outcry, heightened site security, and official monitoring, though the perpetrators and motives remained unknown .

Other politically charged acts include its dousing in red paint by animal rights activists on May 30, 2017, protesting Denmark’s whale hunting; the phrase “racist fish” spray-painted on July 3, 2020, amid Black Lives Matter protests; and the Russian flag painted on March 2, 2023, interpreted as pro-Russian war support, each incident prompting police investigation, media attention, debates, but no arrests .

Through these repeated acts, the statue endures as a multifaceted symbol and flashpoint for protest.

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has undergone repeated intentional attacks, reflecting its potent symbolic status in cultural and counter-cultural debates.

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.)

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The earliest major incident occurred on April 24, 1964, when the statue's head was sawn off and stolen; the head was never recovered and the perpetrators were never identified.

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 ”.

This act shocked Denmark and sparked debate over monument protection, with the incident widely interpreted as protest art .

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.

On July 22, 1984, a group linked to leftist activism severed the statue’s right arm.

The arm was found and reattached within days.

Title:

Content: Poland! It was never on my travel list. In my mind, it’s an East European country ravaged by world wars. So when I was assigned a trip to Poland, I hesitated briefly. Then I said to myself: I know very little about the country, so let this be a voyage of discovery.

A fantastic voyage of discovery it was. Over seven days, Poland surprised and enchanted me with its history, culture, architecture, natural beauty, fresh fruits and cuisine. The swing through Warsaw, Gdansk, Gdynia, Lodz and Wroclaw lent me a new perspective. I saw a modern country with good infrastructure, clean roads, green vistas, rolling fields, ancient baroque-style palaces, ornate churches, centuries-old architecture and fantastic food.

I would have liked a more immersive experience because there was so much to see and take in. I wanted to sit at one of the wayside restaurants in Wroclaw and watch the world go by with a beverage in hand. Take a stroll through Piotrkowska Street in Lodz. Stand a bit longer on the Orlowo Pier in Gydnia with the wind in my face and watch the Baltic Sea. And Gdansk, where do I even start? The charming port city brims with history.

Poland is no stranger to history, and the past is inextricably entwined in its capital, Warsaw. A city that was destroyed in the Second World War and rebuilt from the ruins. The city is a testament to the resilience of the Poles, who repeatedly bounced back from the horrors of wars and partitions. Time stands still in Warsaw, particularly in the Old Town.

Brutal wars and a painful past may be a recurring theme in Poland, but Frederic Chopin occupies pride of place in Polish tourism. Rightly so, because he is the most famous Pole in the world. People throng Chopin concerts worldwide, and some don’t even know he’s Polish. Chopin spent his later years in France and is buried in Paris, hence the confusion.

Chopin is everywhere in Poland. I arrived at the Frederic Chopin International Airport in Warsaw. A visit to the Holy Cross Church brought me closer to Chopin’s heart. Literally. It resides in one of the church’s pillars after being smuggled into Poland, past Soviet border guards by his sister, as Chopin requested before his death.

Stepping outside the church, I came across the Chopin benches. The black granite benches, found in 15 places in Warsaw, play Chopin’s works and offer a map to other bench locations. Walking past them, I found a Chopin lodging where he lived as a young man. Heading to the Royal Lazienki Park, I found a sculpture of Chopin sitting under a willow. An outdoor concert was underway.

A 60km trip to Zelazowa Wola brought me to Chopin’s birthplace (he was born in 1810). A lone building with all things Chopin remains on the premises. Aleksandra Swigut, a pianist, played a couple of the maestro’s works. Warsaw is also home to a Chopin Museum. But there’s much more to Poland than Chopin.

WARSAW: UNESCO HERITAGE EXCEPTION
Unesco world heritage sites generally are of archaeological significance. But Warsaw’s historic city centre is an exception: all the structures were built in the 20th century, although some have a 14th-century feel about them. Poland rebuilt the city with popular donations after Nazi troops systematically demolished 80-90% of the buildings when Poles earned German leader Adolf Hitler’s wrath with the Warsaw uprising of 1944.
After the war, Poland mobilised its people to rebuild Warsaw with the rallying cry: “The entire nation builds its capital.” The rebuild of Old Town started in 1945, and most of the work was completed in less than ten years, although additional reconstruction continued into the1980s, reports say. Pre-war photographs, architectural drawings and 18th-century paintings by Italian artists Marcello Bacciarelli and Bernardo Bellotto acted as visual guides in the reconstruction.
Undamaged bricks, slabs and fragments were used in the reconstruction. The project was completed with the reopening of the Royal Castle in 1984. With that, Warsaw and Poland reclaimed their past and pride.

A monument that pays tribute to David Copernicus stands prominently at Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street, Warsaw. He’s the Pole who taught us that Earth revolves around the Sun and not the other way around.

Further away is the Royal Castle, a sprawling brick-red building that dominates Castle Square, where Sigismund’s Column haughtily pierces the sky. Difficult to believe that the buildings were rebuilt structures after Germans dynamited the originals following Adolf Hitler’s fury at the Poles’ stubborn resistance.

A few steps away, the Warsaw Mermaid awaited, with a shield aloft and swinging sword over her head. Moving away, I came across the home (now a museum) of Marie Sklodowska-Curie, a Nobel winner in Physics (for the study of spontaneous radioactivity) and Chemistry (discovery of Radium and Polonium, the metal is named after her homeland).

THE MERMAIDS OF WARSAW
Mermaids, there are aplenty in Warsaw, the capital of Poland. But the Syrenka (mermaid in Polish) in Old Town is the most famous. Where did these half-woman half-fish creatures come from? Apparently, there’s no single answer.
Popular legend has it that two mermaid sisters swam across the Baltic Sea and parted ways at Gdansk: one went to Copenhagen, and the other came down the Vistula River and rested near the Old Town in Warsaw. Impressed with the place, she decided to stay, but the fishermen were unhappy with her for freeing fish from their nets. Her beauty and singing won them, but a greedy merchant kidnapped her to make money on travelling shows at fairs. A fisherman’s son rescued her, and a grateful mermaid vowed to defend the village that became Warsaw.
Another one says that when a prince lost his way on a hunting trip, the mermaid shot arrows into the sky to guide him to safety. The third tale is about a griffin (a mythical animal with the head and wings of an eagle and the body, hind legs, and tail of a lion) who defended the city and accompanied fishermen into the Baltic. During a trip, he fell in love with a mermaid, and the two returned to live in Warsaw. The griffin died in the battle with the Swedes, and the mermaid took up arms to defend the city. The grateful people made her the symbol of Warsaw and placed her in the coat of arms.
Stories there are many more, and each is fiercely disputed, according to reports. Mermaids too are many in Warsaw. The one at Old Town Square attracts the most tourists, another one can be spotted near the Swietokrzyski Bridge, and a third stands near the Markiewicz viaduct. More lesser-known statues of mermaids are sighted around the city.

Some grim moments at the boundary of a former Jewish Warsaw Ghetto were followed by a trip to the magnificent Wilanow Palace, a baroque-style summer residence of King Jan III Sobieski built in the 17th century.

Another palace loomed in Lazienki Krolewskie, or the Royal Baths Park: the Palace on the Isle, which dates back to the 17th century. Initially a Baroque Bathouse Pavilion, it was converted into a neoclassical palace before it became a museum.

Slate grey skies with dark clouds and a steady drizzle greeted me in Gdynia. The chilly winds failed to thwart a lazy walk over the 180-metre Orlowo Pier, the wooden structure built during the First World War. A coffee warmed me for a spot of forest-bathing as I hiked the nature reserve with the affable Marek Kaminski, the Guinness record-holder who has been both the poles.

Soon I stepped into Gdansk, a seaside city steeped in history. All the ruins were rebuilt in precisely the same manner. I walked the streets in awe, marvelling at the buildings but not fully knowing the weight of history and a past that tied Gdynia and Gdansk to the start of the Second World War.

Gdansk is the land of Lech Walesa, the man with a walrus moustache, who led the Solidarity Movement from the docks and rose to become the country’s first democratically elected president. I knew that. But I didn’t know of another Gdansk son, Daniel Fahrenheit, who is more known for devising the Fahrenheit temperature scale and less for inventing the mercury-in-glass thermometer.

The city is also the capital of amber, a fossilised resin from coniferous trees. So a visit to Amber Museum is mandatory. It traces the trade and history of amber from 8000 BC and is a virtual repository of all things amber.

Lodz was the next stop. Lodz is pronounced Wuj and written Łódź in Polish. Being a textile manufacturing centre, Lodz is a fashion capital, and a long walk through Piotrkowska Street is also a must for film buffs. It didn’t happen due to a time crunch. The Lodz film school helped film directors Roman Polanski, Andrzej Wajda and Krzysztof Kieslowski learn the craft.

The land of gnomes, Wroclaw beckoned me. Statues of little people are found everywhere in the city: in the alleys, doorways, street corners and even the city centre. Although more of a tourist gimmick now, its origins lie in the underground protest movement during the days of communism.

Wroclaw in Lower Silesia is adorned with beautiful buildings, especially around the Rynek (Market Square). Many colourful buildings were rebuilt after the wars but retained their appeal. A buggy ride helped us whistle past many landmarks, but we did make it to the Hydropolis (a water research centre) and the Raclawice Panorama, which houses a 360-degree 3D painting. It’s not a technological marvel but an artwork that fuses art on canvas and real-life objects to depict the 1794 Battle of Raclawice.

A stay at the Ksiaz Castle hotel was a throwback to the past, but the spooky night tour of the 13th-century castle produced spine-chilling encounters with four ghosts of people who served the House of Hochberg. The German and Soviet forces ravaged much of the castle during the wars, and rumours abound that a lost Nazi gold train is said to be buried near the castle.

I didn’t find the gold train but was treated to Poland’s bounty. The seven days sure did change my perception of the country. There’s much more to see and enjoy. So I will be back.

Jen-koo-yeh Polska (Thank you Poland).

No arrests occurred, but the vandalism generated debate about the statue’s role and prompted increased surveillance .

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. ”

Another decapitation happened on January 6, 1998; this time, the head was recovered and restored after several days.

The public responded with a blend of frustration and relief, with officials launching an investigation but never identifying the culprits .

Title:

Content: In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag - RIA Novosti, 02.03.2023
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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
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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."
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On September 11, 2003, explosives knocked the statue off its base into the harbor.

Recovery and restoration followed within days.

This attack triggered intense public outcry, heightened site security, and official monitoring, though the perpetrators and motives remained unknown .

Other politically charged acts include its dousing in red paint by animal rights activists on May 30, 2017, protesting Denmark’s whale hunting; the phrase “racist fish” spray-painted on July 3, 2020, amid Black Lives Matter protests; and the Russian flag painted on March 2, 2023, interpreted as pro-Russian war support, each incident prompting police investigation, media attention, debates, but no arrests .

Through these repeated acts, the statue endures as a multifaceted symbol and flashpoint for protest.