Outrage as giant blue penis painted along building in Sweden (PHOTOS)

A giant penis in the colors of Sweden’s national flag which was, em, erected on the side of a five-storey building in central Stockholm is to be erased after shocked residents demanded it’s removal.

The artist behind the giant phallic mural, Carolina Falkholt, said she hoped it would encourage passersby, especially those shocked or repulsed, to think about why they are disturbed by human anatomy, and what that means for their understanding of sex in general.

"They should consider what it is they are so upset about and then talk about it," Falkholt told Aftonbladet as the painting was unveiled at Kronobergsvägen on Kungsholmen. "Sex is so important, but it’s always been too dirty to discuss."

Locals, however, seem less enthusiastic about the artist’s aims, or the chances of her project having a social impact.

“Think of the neighbors and the children… embarrassing,” wrote one Swede on Twitter. “That blue penis only shows how low the culture in Sweden is today,” wrote another. “I have limited faith that this outstanding monster will create dialogue around sexuality and freedom.”

The company which owns the residential building said they made the decision to paint over the penis just one week after it was unveiled because of the overwhelming number of complaints.

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"Some people are positive about the work and see it as playing an important part in the debate around sexuality, the body and gender," the property managers wrote in a statement. "Others, particularly neighbors, have received the work less well, and experience it as offensive. Of course we care about artistic freedom, but at the same time we must respect the opinion of our closest neighbors."

The penis was painted on a legal graffiti wall, meaning there is no requirement to consult with local residents about the controversial artwork. Legal graffiti is part of an ongoing campaign by the art organization Kollektivet Livet to inject more artwork on the streets of Stockholm.

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Artwork usually remains on the wall for about six months before the group commissions new artists to paint their work. However, Falkholt had a similar piece of phallic artwork in New York City, scheduled to remain for three weeks, but it was erased after just three days.

That project – a giant erect penis depicted in pink, orange and red – was displayed on a wall in Manhattan’s Lower East Side and drew heavy criticism from local residents. At the time Falkholt said her work was about “not feeling ashamed of your body and who you are as a sexual being” and that she also painted giant images of female genitalia.

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