Call in the lady gardeners! Thieves steal ‘strategically placed’ bush from naked Birth of Venus sculpture
- Queensland council looking to cover up genitalia of naked ‘Birth of Venus’ statue
- Statue’s vulva was left exposed outside art’s centre after ‘strategic’ bush stolen
- Visitor complained statue ‘in foetal position’ had its ‘private bits’ poking at you
A Queensland council are looking to replace a ‘strategically placed’ bush outside an arts centre after visitors had complained of the naked ‘Birth of Venus’ sculpture.
The bush had been covering the female sandstone sculpture’s genitalia, which were on full display at the front entrance to the Bribie Island Community Art Centre.
Bribie Island resident Lulu Drew was so shocked by the naked statue that she lodged a formal complaint with the Moreton Bay Regional Council after she visited the arts centre with an elderly man.
The statue has reportedly since been ‘hidden’ from view.
A Queensland council are looking to replace a ‘strategically placed’ bush outside an arts centre after visitors had complained of the naked ‘Birth of Venus’ sculpture
The bush had been covering the female sandstone sculpture’s genitalia, which are now on full display at the front entrance to the Bribie Island Community Art Centre
She claims the pair ‘didn’t know where to look’ and that the sculpture was showing its ‘private bits’, ABC News reported.
The sculpture has a tumultuous history and once stood in a public park in Woorim until vandals painted the vulva pink in 2008.
It was ordered to be removed by Caboolture mayor Allan Sutherland after he deemed the defaced sculpture ‘offensive to women’.
The statue then remained at back of the art’s centre for a decade with no issue, until it was moved to the front entrance one year ago.
Workers move the controversial Birth of Venus sculpture after a previous complaint
A strategically-placed bush concealing the genitalia was recently stolen, prompting a fresh complaint.
Ms Drew said it was not appropriate for the art’s centre to have a statue of a woman ‘laying down in a foetal position with its bits poking at you.’
She added that little kids frequented the building. ‘They’re walking in and there is this lady lying in the foetal position,’ she said.
The sculpture’s creator, artist Antone Bruinsma said he was dismayed the council was covering up his work, adding that it was intended to be a work of ‘beauty and light and love’.