Paris' new Christmas tree looks like 'inflatable sex toy'
A new sculpture of a giant Christmas tree in Paris is raising eyebrows - because of its uncanny resemblance to a sex toy.
The 80ft high sculpture is actually an installation by American artist Paul McCarthy.
The installation, called simply 'Tree', is located at the Place Vendome as part of The International Contemporary Art fair, (FIAC), reports the Independent.
Some Parisians are none too happy about the suggestive sculpture.
According to the Daily Mail, French Spring, a French far-right group opposed to gay marriage, posted a picture of the 'Tree' on Twitter, writing: "Place Vendome disfigured! Paris humiliated!"
It added: "This is where your tax dollars are going!"
But McCarthy is no stranger to controversy and is well known for his 'naughty' artworks.
Back in 2011 at an exhibition in London, he displayed an identical pair of clay anamatroni sculptures of former US president George W Bush having sex with pigs.
'Tree' coincides with the opening of 'Chocolate Factory', the artist's first solo survey in France, which in turn coincides with the grand reopening of the Monnaie de Paris.
According to City Lab, "the organizing theme for this special celebration of contemporary art in Paris appears to be what the French call 'le plug': Not only does Tree bear an uncanny resemblance to the flanged sex toy, 'Chocolate Factory' will see workers produce thousands of chocolate figurines of Santa Claus holding this 'emblem'."
The site adds the at it would be easy to laugh as the sculptures appear to resemble butt plugs, but Chiara Parisi, head of cultural programs for Monnaie de Paris, calls the piece un grand fantasme.
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