Shanghaiist: Danish lawmakers pissed off at Little Mermaid's six-month move to Shanghai

nanheyangrouchuan

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:57:23 +0800

@ Bob Jacobson There is still not going to be a US pavilion, give it up.

Bob Jacobson

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:38:47 +0800

You can read the TV2 debate about moving the Little Mermaid here: http://1234-dyn.tv2.dk/article.php/id-15409664.html Use Google Language Tools to translate the entire page from Danish to the language of your choice. GLT is here: http://www.google.com/language_tools As with so many forum discussions, this one quickly degenerates into sloganeering -- but there are some gems among the rubble.

Bob Jacobson

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:23:52 +0800

The Folkpartiet (People's Party) is xenophobic and reactionary. It represents racists, conservative farmers, and cynical business folk who like that it holds back social services in order to reduce taxes. The FP gives a really hard time to non-Danes in Denmark, including Asian residents. It's a poor representative of Danish culture and values. This is truly a tempest in a teacup! The Little Mermaid China is receiving is actually a copy of an earlier statue that was blown up as a prank, causing a great deal of consternation in Denmark. The Danes consider this one authentic as it is modeled exactly on the old one from the artist's notes. Unlike other cultures, the Danes do not trade in copies or replicas. The beautiful Danish Pavilion is quite remarkable for two other reasons: First, it contains a large swimming pool of water from Copenhagen Harbor, clean enough to swim in -- a prod to the Shanghai authorities to ensure the same for its residents. Second, it comes with 1,500 of Denmark's uniquely designed, excellent bicycles which Expo visitors can ride around the park. Obviously, the Danes, traders since Viking days, see opportunity here. Bjarke Ingels, the Danish Pavilion architect, at a recent conference summed up the Little Mermaid (known in Danish as "Lille Halvfrue") decision this way: "We are a small nation of only 5 million people. We warmly welcome Chinese guests. But in practical terms, it's better to send one Little Mermaid to China, to be seen by 70 million Chinese there, than to have 70 million Chinese come to Copenhagen to see her here."

larboard

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 08:41:34 +0800

The Mermaid is an antique piece of art (95 years old) which represent Danish pride. To send a fake one to China for the exhibition is an insult to all antiques lovers.

DS

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:43:44 +0800

OMG! OMG! She is nude! Cover your eyes!

NannyState

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:16:24 +0800

Denmark sends one Little Mermaid to China and gets back 2 million Little Mermaids. That's how the global economy works.

Bai He

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:01:18 +0800

Your comments are all so tolerant, it's really nice to see. But we need to send you the real thing! Actually, it's a silly, sexist little statue. I wish we were sending something better for Expo.

EL JEFE

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:03:17 +0800

Who would borrow a swimsuit from an Expo pavilion? It must also be an exhibition about STDs

EPM

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:49:29 +0800

a remake would give them a chance to shave a few pounds off that sea cow.

DontBlameMe

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:40:25 +0800

What, China suddenly has a problem with knock-offs? Make a copy!

EPM

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:34:29 +0800

a remake would give them a chance to shave a few pounds off that sea cow.

taihanasie

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:47:57 +0800

This seems strange to me too. Would anyone in China really care that they were not seeing the real Little Mermaid?

LoveChinaLongTime

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:20:53 +0800

I don't see the controversy here. Send a copy mermaid. The Danes need their original to keep tourism healthy in Denmark and the Chinese are simply used to and are indifferent to fakes anyway.