Similar to Marcel Duchamp's ready-made 'Fountain', 'Tree' by Paul McCarthy started a huge debate about accepted art. For right wing and catholic activists this piece of art 'humiliated' Paris. The statue was installed in Place Vendôme last week, an exclusive square known for its expensive jewelry and luxury hotels, commissioned by the contemporary art fair 'FIAC'. It was attacked and deflated the same night it went up, people were so outraged. The almost 70 year old artist even got hit in the face three times by an angry protester telling him that he is not French and his art work has no place on the square. The artist has refused to have it reinstalled there after the vandalism.

Although it looks like a giant butt plug, the artist explained that in fact this work is an abstraction of a Christmas tree, but regardless this should not be a problem. Butt plugs are very normalized these days, at least in the west. What's incredible is how in this day and age people still feel outraged enough by such work to the point of violence. Shows how narrow-minded these people are and we feel that it's important to preserve freedom of expression including in art works.

By the way, the exhibition of Paul McCarthy in Paris opens later this week and we have a feeling that it's going to be VERY popular. And rightly so.