Rickard said he was horrified when the stone penis came apart in his hands as the Easter exhibition drew to a close.
“The penis is just a part of the human body. Over the years I’ve done everything from hands, to arms to feet. But this is our biggest tool: the source of all reproduction,” Rickard told The Local.
Although he cannot prove that the sculpture was vandalized, Rickard said his artwork had been tucked away in a corner, making it unlikely for somebody to accidentally tip it over.
The artist stressed that he viewed the male organ as a symbol of reproduction, pleasure and love.
“We’ve been using it for thousands of years. I don’t understand how a phallus can be such a source of irritation,” said Rickard.
After some deliberation, the sculptor has decided not to report the matter to the police. Instead he plans to re-exhibit the broken penis as a work in two parts, with the erect upper half tucking in beside the sturdy base.
An adjacent brass plaque will bear the title of the reworked piece: “The Catastrophe in Kristianstad 2009”.
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