Paul McCarthy’s Santa of Oslo: a controversial statue that stands year-round in a traffic circle.

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4 months ago Nathan

Since 2018, Christmas, or rather, a sort of XXXmas, has made a provocative, year-round statement in an Oslo traffic circle.
At its center stands a 6-meter-tall (or, if you prefer, 20 foot) figure, simply called Santa, an unusual creation that has become both a curiosity and a controversy.

The intriguing red bronze sculpture, created by Paul McCarthy (b. 1945), a contemporary artist from Los Angeles, has earned nicknames like the “Dildo Gnome” and “Santa with Butt Plug” because the object Santa holds, apparently a mere Christmas tree, bears a suggestive resemblance to a sex toy, impossible to miss.
The original ‘Santa Claus’, created by the same provocative artist in 2001 for the city of Rotterdam, was intended to be placed next to the Dutch city’s concert hall, but was eventually given a different location after it was seen by many citizens as having sexual connotations (but this is another story).
And now, a 6.09 metre version is in place at Ekebergparken in the Norwegian capital.
Actually Its author frames his work as a critique of Western consumerism and the holiday season’s excesses, blending high and low culture with a sort of irreverence, also noting that an innocent Christmas icon can carry distinctly adult undertones.
In fact, what it might simply be a Christmas tree, it could also resemble a butt plug, redefining it as abstract art.
Not by chance, Paul McCarthy is one of the most influential contemporary artists of his generation, with his performances, videos, sculptures and installations known for their critique of mainstream culture, the consumer society, ridicule of authorities and subversion of beloved icons such as Pinocchio, Snow White, George W. Bush and even Michael Jackson.
And Santa, of course.

Either way, public opinion in Oslo is divided: some see the statue as a tacky distraction, while others embrace its absurdity as a quirky addition to the cityscape.
Even far-right organizations have voiced their disapproval, stating that it undermines traditional values, sparking debates about artistic expression and cultural identity.
Christian Ringnes, brewer heir and philanthropist, whose foundation funded the project, on the other hand, calls the statue a bold centerpiece for the area, an amusing, lively twist for an otherwise unremarkable spot, also admitting he initially saw it as a jolly Santa Claus, only later recognizing its more provocative interpretations.