Anish Kapoor’s ‘Vagina Sculpture’ Graffitied Again—But This Time He’s Not Cleaning It

Anish Kapoor’s sculptural work Dirty Corner has been vandalized for a second time. The large-scale installation, which the artist is infamously quoted as saying it represents the “vagina of the queen who took power,” was splattered in yellow paint in June this year shortly after its installation in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles. While the first attack may have just been mindless mischief, vandals have hijacked the sculpture again, this time spraying anti-Semitic slurs on the work and the rocks surrounding it.

According to the ABC, the phrases include “SS blood sacrifice,” "Queen sacrificed, twice insulted," "the second RAPE of the nation by DEVIANT JEWISH activism," and "Christ is king in Versailles.” This latest graffiti has been condemned by the French government, with culture minister Fleur Pellerin saying in a statement, “This is no more or less an act which reveals a fascist vision of art,” and that the slurs are “unacceptable.”

Despite the offensive nature of the vandalism and the intent behind it, this time Kapoor will not be cleaning off the spray paint. The British-Indian artist has said, “The sculpture will now carry the scars of this renewed attack. I will not allow this act of violence and intolerance to be erased. Dirty Corner will now be marked with hate and I will preserve these scars as a memory of this painful history. I am determined that art will triumph."

Anish has also taken to his Instagram to post images of the graffiti, and further explain his rationale for leaving the work in its current state:

Dirty Corner dirty politics anti Semitism. This is what leads to the exclusion of our Syrian brothers and sisters. France is shamed because of this hateful minority. A violent attack on the human spirit and on culture. I am a Jew. And a Muslim. And a Hindu. And a Christian. #DirtyCorner #Intolerance #Versailles #France #Culture #Attack #Racism #AntiSemtism #Jew #Judaism #Vandalism #Violence

A photo posted by Anish Kapoor (@dirty_corner) on Sep 6, 2015 at 5:16am PDT

"DISGUST. DISHONOUR. TREASON. SATANISM." Dirty Corner. I am speechless in my despair. Join me in condemning this act of Violence and Intolerance. #DirtyCorner #Violence #AntiSemtism #Racism #Intolerance #Vandalism #AnishKapoor #Kapoor #ChateauVersailles

A photo posted by Anish Kapoor (@dirty_corner) on Sep 6, 2015 at 6:08am PDT

Dirty Corner exposes hidden paranoia. #DirtyCorner #Violence #ChateauVersailles #Intolerance #Versailles #Judaism #Jew #Kapoor #AnishKapoor #AntiSemtism

A photo posted by Anish Kapoor (@dirty_corner) on Sep 6, 2015 at 6:34am PDT

Dirty Corner. Now a monument to intolerance. Gravestones at Versailles. I challenge the museums of the world to show this work as it is now, as it shall remain. #DirtyCorner #AnishKapoor #Kapoor #Intolerance #RacistAttack #Vandalism #Culture #ChateauVersailles #Versailles

A photo posted by Anish Kapoor (@dirty_corner) on Sep 6, 2015 at 8:41am PDT

A version of this article originally appeared on The Creators Project Australia. 

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