Massive granite penis sculpture travels through Stockholm
A 765-kg granite penis sculpture is being transported through Stockholm streets after 20 years in storage. The artwork, originally commissioned for Japanese Shinto traditions, will be exhibited in Stockholm's Galleri Tegnérlunden this autumn. Priced at 700,000 SEK, the provocative piece has drawn reactions but no official complaints.
A giant granite penis sculpture is making its way through Stockholm streets. The artwork weighs 765 kilograms and remained hidden for 20 years before its public debut.
Gallery owner Marcus Skinnar described the piece as "a proud, erect penis" in a television interview. He originally purchased the sculpture while working in China.
The statue was initially commissioned by a Japanese village for Shinto tradition protection purposes. Shinto is Japan's indigenous spiritual tradition focusing on ritual practices connecting present-day Japan with its ancient past. The order was never completed, leading to the sculpture's journey to Sweden.
"I was feeling quite down at that time. Things had gone really badly. Then I saw it, bought it, and moved it to my warehouse on Körsbärsvägen in Stockholm," Skinnar said in a morning news program.
The sculpture will be displayed this autumn at Galleri Tegnérlunden in Stockholm. It forms part of the "Eroticism and Romance" exhibition and carries a price tag of 700,000 Swedish kronor (approximately $63,000).
Transporting the massive granite work requires special preparation. Workers loaded it upright on pallets for its journey through the city. Despite the sculpture's explicit nature, Skinnar noted that while several people have reacted to it, no one has been offended.
Why display such an unconventional piece? The gallery seems to be testing Stockholm's tolerance for provocative art while capitalizing on the attention such works inevitably generate. The high price tag suggests they're serious about finding a buyer for this unusual conversation piece.