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Paul McCarthy hits back at French critics of his ‘butt plug’ sculpture Paul McCarthy hits back at French critics of his ‘butt plug’ sculpture
(about 1 hour later)
American artist Paul McCarthy is hitting back against French critics after his provocative “butt plug” was vandalised in a Paris square last week.American artist Paul McCarthy is hitting back against French critics after his provocative “butt plug” was vandalised in a Paris square last week.
Stung by the public backlash against his giant, inflated, green installation, Tree, which resembled a sex toy, McCarthy has been working on an “aggressive” response as part of an exhibition at the Paris Mint, officials said on Thursday. The Mint, located on the banks of the Seine opposite the Louvre, is to host a working chocolate factory when it reopens on Saturday after a massive three-year renovation. Stung by the public backlash against his giant green installation, Tree, which resembled a sex toy, McCarthy has been working on an “aggressive” response as part of an exhibition at the Paris Mint, officials said on Thursday. The Mint, located on the banks of the Seine opposite the Louvre, is to host a working chocolate factory when it reopens on Saturday after a massive three-year renovation.
Vandals cut the cables of the 25-metre (80ft) sculpture in the Place Vendôme last weekend, amid protests from conservative groups. One passer-by was so incensed by the installation, near the Ritz hotel, that he slapped the artist. Vandals cut the cables of the 25-metre (80ft) inflated sculpture in the Place Vendôme last weekend, amid protests from conservative groups. One passer-by was so incensed by the installation, near the Ritz hotel, that he slapped the artist.
McCarthy decided against re-erecting the Tree, which was deflated by security officials, and has instead planned an artistic response. Paris Mint spokesman Guillaume Robic said the chocolate factory was already up and running and had been producing 250 chocolate Father Christmas figurines, each with a butt plug, each day for the past few days. Eleven rooms where the figurines are stocked have been made dark to resemble a long tunnel. Visitors will be able to move through the halls, where there will be a strong smell of chocolate, and where a video and “aggressive sounds” will be playing. “It’s a dream, or a nightmare,” Robic said. “It reflects the aggressiveness that McCarthy felt after what happened in the Place Vendôme.”McCarthy decided against re-erecting the Tree, which was deflated by security officials, and has instead planned an artistic response. Paris Mint spokesman Guillaume Robic said the chocolate factory was already up and running and had been producing 250 chocolate Father Christmas figurines, each with a butt plug, each day for the past few days. Eleven rooms where the figurines are stocked have been made dark to resemble a long tunnel. Visitors will be able to move through the halls, where there will be a strong smell of chocolate, and where a video and “aggressive sounds” will be playing. “It’s a dream, or a nightmare,” Robic said. “It reflects the aggressiveness that McCarthy felt after what happened in the Place Vendôme.”
The chocolate factory – a reproduction of a 2007 installation by McCarthy in New York – is operated by pastry makers who have been trained to perform by McCarthy.The chocolate factory – a reproduction of a 2007 installation by McCarthy in New York – is operated by pastry makers who have been trained to perform by McCarthy.
The chocolate figurines, dubbed “phallic dwarves” by the French media, are to go on sale for consumption at the end of the exhibition on 4 January. Meanwhile, visitors entering the Mint will be confronted by a forest of giant white, inflated sculptures on the grand stairway of the historic 18th-century building.The chocolate figurines, dubbed “phallic dwarves” by the French media, are to go on sale for consumption at the end of the exhibition on 4 January. Meanwhile, visitors entering the Mint will be confronted by a forest of giant white, inflated sculptures on the grand stairway of the historic 18th-century building.
“It’s in the eye of the beholder,” said Robic, referring to the butt plug imagery in McCarthy’s work, which he described as intending to show that people are being “stuffed” by the commercialism of consumer society.“It’s in the eye of the beholder,” said Robic, referring to the butt plug imagery in McCarthy’s work, which he described as intending to show that people are being “stuffed” by the commercialism of consumer society.
The controversy over the McCarthy Tree exhibit has overshadowed an attempt by Paris to promote itself as the centre of the art world this week. The city is also hosting an annual contemporary art show, and the Mint reopens on the same day as the renovated Picasso Museum.The controversy over the McCarthy Tree exhibit has overshadowed an attempt by Paris to promote itself as the centre of the art world this week. The city is also hosting an annual contemporary art show, and the Mint reopens on the same day as the renovated Picasso Museum.
A gastronomic restaurant overlooking the Seine will welcome customers in the coming weeks as part of the phased overhaul at the Mint, which still presses commemorative coins. The renovations, which are to include workshops, galleries and a courtyard garden, will be completed in 2016.A gastronomic restaurant overlooking the Seine will welcome customers in the coming weeks as part of the phased overhaul at the Mint, which still presses commemorative coins. The renovations, which are to include workshops, galleries and a courtyard garden, will be completed in 2016.