Man breaks ceramic penis artwork
October 31, 2018
The German artist who created a spinning ceramic penis admitted on Wednesday that the man who had broken the artwork at an exhibition had inadvertently helped to raise awareness about her work.
"Of course this incident was an advertisement for me," Anna Maria Bieniek told the dpa news agency, adding: "I won't make a big drama out of it."
Read more: A Vienna museum covers up its penis problem
The ceramic sculpture was one of three 40- to 60-centimeter (15 to 23-inch) colorful penises on display at the Kunstpalais Erlangen exhibit in southern Germany on October 21.
Shortly after the exhibit opened, a fellow artist inadvertently toppled the penis while he was trying to read an explanatory note about the piece. The sculpture, which had not been sold yet, was spinning on a round base at the time.
'I'm not Banksy'
Bieniek said she immediately thought to herself: "I'm not Banksy." A piece by the anonymous British Graffiti artist intentionally destroyed itself after it was sold at auction in early October.
The 39-year-old Bieniek said that while she welcomed the subsequent media attention, she "regretted" that exhibit visitors could no longer "enjoy a perfect observation" of the original artwork. She also hoped that people did not forget to focus on the art itself.
Bieniek has repaired parts of the penis since the accident, but decided to leave a large crack open.
Expressing men's libido
The idea behind the work emerged from Bieniek's self-professed "anger" toward men. She said men are too often overpowered by their sexual urges.
Read more: Does the penis ever get bored?
"I expressed the penis's libido and inability for self-control through the movement of this nearly lifelike phallus," she said.
Bieniek hopes the man's insurance will cover the damages. "Artists also need to make a living," she said.