STATUE stories

Jesus also moves with the times as you see at the entrance of the museum in Vaals. A caravan dweller from Landgraaf left without taking this 4,5-metre-tall statue of the Redeemer with him so it was given a second lease on life in Vaals. The famous graffiti and stencil artist Hugo Kaagman used Christian symbolism in Delft blue, adding a large ‘S’ to the pedestal. The museum has a collection of over two hundred statues of saints.

Butt Plug Gnome

Wherever Paul McCarthy pops up, controversy inevitably follows. The Parisians were not enthused when they saw the rather suggestive shape of McCarthy’s Christmas tree, which was installed near the Louvre. His statue of St. Nick for the city of Rotterdam also got people’s knickers in a twist because instead of a Christmas tree Santa seems to be holding a butt plug. And that’s how this statue got its nickname, i.e., the Butt Plug Gnome. The locals, however, objected to its installation. After several peregrinations it ended up here, after the Nieuwe Binnenweg traders’ association lobbied, successfully, to have it installed in the square. The gnome has since become a popular Instagram feature and a place to meet.