Stomach in Chest Out

Day after day I am reminded that we live in a strange world.

Sculptor Marcel Walldorf‘s “Petra” depicts a young female police officer in full riot gear crouching to pee, with exposed buttocks and a small gelatin “puddle” affixed to the floor of the gallery at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden, Eastern Germany.

The 27 year old German sculptors work is constructed of silicone and metal and has pitted public officials against art world aficionados in the debate over what is acceptable in the name of high culture.

mmm, my Mother always used to say that urinating in public was certainly NOT high culture.

Predictably Police Unions and Government officials have come out against the piece throwing rhetoric and bits of the artists material against him.

Walldorf was recently the recipient of a 1 000 Euro prize awarded by the prestigious Leinemann Foundation for fine arts for the “Petra” sculpture.

Saxony interior minister Markus Ulbig, who is responsible for the state’s security services, told the German press he was “shocked” by the sculpture, which he branded “an insult to police officers.”

Frankly, after a visit to Marcel Walldorf’s web site I think they should be seriously considering the declining state of education and moral turpitude within the country. Young Marcel seems to have a morbid fascination with sex, death and excrement.

The debate around Marcel and his statue is receiving much focus.

Look around Port Elizabeth on a daily basis and you will observe men and women variously standing or squatting, in public, to relieve the pressure of that last beer.

Maybe Marcel should have included a sculpture of a virile, no Viagra needed, South African ‘suspect’ standing and urinating next to “Petra”?

At the end of the day what is worse – police officers that are incapable of chasing suspects or police officers that urinate in the ‘line of duty’ in order to do their job?

I am sure that South Africans will be less offended by Marcel and his “Pee’ing Pieta” and see the humour and pathos in the sculpture. After all our horse riding sheriff, Bheki Cele, didn’t take offence when DJ Excess turned Cele’s famous “Stomach in, Chest Out” speech into a catchy tune!

Watch a thoroughly boring interview with Marcel (in German) on YouTube. The interview is only relevant as it is shot with “Petra” in the background.

What do you think? Is “Petra” art or maybe just a careful plan by the artist to gain notoriety and fame so that he can sell his works?

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE

Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.

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