Petra (sculpture)
Encyclopedia
Petra is a sculpture made in 2010 by the German artist Marcel Walldorf. It is a lifelike representation of a policewoman in riot control
gear squatting down and urinating. Although controversial for its alleged misogyny
, it obtained an award from the Leinemann-Stiftung für Bildung und Kunst in 2011.
and metal, is of a woman in armored olive-green German riot control police uniform, wearing a sidearm. Most of her face is hidden behind a protective helmet and a black ski mask. She is squatting on her haunches, legs slightly spread, pants and underwear pulled down, exposing her genitals to urinate.
The sculpture contains a mechanism by which a liquid can be made to flow out of the sculpture's genitals, but to avoid damaging the wood-tiled floor, a puddle of simulated urine made of gelatin
was substituted for the sculpture's exhibition in Dresden
.
The title of the work, "Petra
", is a common female given name in Germany.
The sculpture was sold to a collector in 2011. Walldorf has been commissioned to build two additional copies.
without attracting public notice. It was awarded the third prize, worth 1,000 euro, of the Kunstpreis für Nachwuchskünstler (award for young artists) of the Leinemann Foundation for 2011. The jury found that it showed "very well the difference between the public sphere and the private sphere."
In advance of its exhibition in Dresden in January 2011, Walldorf's teacher Eberhard Bosslet
informed the country's largest tabloid newspaper, Bild, about the potentially controversial sculpture. Bild published a story asking: "Is this really art?", which triggered a plethora of media reports and public controversy. The Minister of the Interior of Saxony
, Markus Ulbig, was quoted by Bild as saying: "This so-called work of art is a shame. It's an insult to policewomen. I'm shocked that there are bodies who award prizes to such so-called artists." The German police union also criticized the sculpture as insulting and as "breaching the limits of artistic freedom."
Nonetheless, the curator of the Dresden exhibition reported that the public response to the sculpture had been "overwhelmingly positive". Walldorf himself stated that he did not pursue any political objective with the sculpture, saying that he did not intend to criticize the state or to denounce anything or any profession. In an interview with Der Spiegel
, he said that he merely wondered, after seeing male police officers on riot duty relieve themselves, how policewomen would deal with this problem.
Riot control
Riot control refers to the measures used by police, military, or other security forces to control, disperse, and arrest civilians who are involved in a riot, demonstration, or protest. Law enforcement officers or soldiers have long used non-lethal weapons such as batons and whips to disperse crowds...
gear squatting down and urinating. Although controversial for its alleged misogyny
Misogyny
Misogyny is the hatred or dislike of women or girls. Philogyny, meaning fondness, love or admiration towards women, is the antonym of misogyny. The term misandry is the term for men that is parallel to misogyny...
, it obtained an award from the Leinemann-Stiftung für Bildung und Kunst in 2011.
Description
The life-size sculpture, made of siliconeSilicone
Silicones are inert, synthetic compounds with a variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant and rubber-like, they are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medical applications , cookware, and insulation....
and metal, is of a woman in armored olive-green German riot control police uniform, wearing a sidearm. Most of her face is hidden behind a protective helmet and a black ski mask. She is squatting on her haunches, legs slightly spread, pants and underwear pulled down, exposing her genitals to urinate.
The sculpture contains a mechanism by which a liquid can be made to flow out of the sculpture's genitals, but to avoid damaging the wood-tiled floor, a puddle of simulated urine made of gelatin
Gelatin
Gelatin is a translucent, colorless, brittle , flavorless solid substance, derived from the collagen inside animals' skin and bones. It is commonly used as a gelling agent in food, pharmaceuticals, photography, and cosmetic manufacturing. Substances containing gelatin or functioning in a similar...
was substituted for the sculpture's exhibition in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
.
The title of the work, "Petra
Petra (given name)
Petra is a feminine given name. It is a feminine form of Peter, which is derived from the Greek word "petros" meaning "stone, rock". It is also a common first name in Germany, Croatia and the Czech Republic.- Variants :...
", is a common female given name in Germany.
History
Petra is the first major work of Walldorf, a student at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. Walldorf built it in 2010, modelling the exposed body of the sculpture after a flatmate who posed for him.The sculpture was sold to a collector in 2011. Walldorf has been commissioned to build two additional copies.
Reception
Petra was shown at exhibitions in Berlin and LeipzigLeipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
without attracting public notice. It was awarded the third prize, worth 1,000 euro, of the Kunstpreis für Nachwuchskünstler (award for young artists) of the Leinemann Foundation for 2011. The jury found that it showed "very well the difference between the public sphere and the private sphere."
In advance of its exhibition in Dresden in January 2011, Walldorf's teacher Eberhard Bosslet
Eberhard Bosslet
Eberhard Bosslet is a German contemporary artist who has been producing site-specific art and architectural-related works, such as sculpture, installation and painting, both indoors and outdoors, since 1979...
informed the country's largest tabloid newspaper, Bild, about the potentially controversial sculpture. Bild published a story asking: "Is this really art?", which triggered a plethora of media reports and public controversy. The Minister of the Interior of Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, Markus Ulbig, was quoted by Bild as saying: "This so-called work of art is a shame. It's an insult to policewomen. I'm shocked that there are bodies who award prizes to such so-called artists." The German police union also criticized the sculpture as insulting and as "breaching the limits of artistic freedom."
Nonetheless, the curator of the Dresden exhibition reported that the public response to the sculpture had been "overwhelmingly positive". Walldorf himself stated that he did not pursue any political objective with the sculpture, saying that he did not intend to criticize the state or to denounce anything or any profession. In an interview with Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
, he said that he merely wondered, after seeing male police officers on riot duty relieve themselves, how policewomen would deal with this problem.