{{Short description|Former statue in Vancouver, Canada}} {{Infobox artwork | title = Penis Satan | other_language_1 = | other_title_1 = | other_language_2 = | other_title_2 = | wikidata = | image = Penis Satan.png | image_upright = | alt = | caption = ''Penis Satan''. September 9, 2014, Vancouver, BC, Canada. | artist = | year = <!-- If after 1583 CE, use {{start date|YYYY}} --> | completion_date = <!-- For a more specific date (post-1583): {{start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} --> | catalogue = | medium = | movement = | subject = | height_metric = <!-- (i.e. in metric units) --> | width_metric = | length_metric = | diameter_metric = | height_imperial = <!-- (i.e. in imperial units) --> | width_imperial = | length_imperial = | diameter_imperial = | dimensions = | dimensions_ref = | metric_unit = cm <!-- Note: this parameter must either use the value given or not be included --> | imperial_unit = in <!-- Note: this parameter must either use the value given or not be included --> | weight = | designation = | condition = | museum = | city = | coordinates = {{Coord|49.266347|N|123.0778735|W|display=inline,title}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 13 | owner = | accession = | preceded_by = <!-- preceding work by the same artist --> | followed_by = <!-- next work by the same artist --> | module = | website = <!-- Official webpage/site only: {{URL|example.com}} --> }} '''''Penis Satan''''', also called '''''East Van Satan''''' or '''''Demon Ball''''', is a statue that was erected on September 9, 2014, in Vancouver, Canada.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Moye|first=David|date=September 10, 2014|title=Naked Satan Statue Has Vancouver Locals Asking, 'What The Devil?'|work=HuffPost|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/naked-satan-statue_n_5799438|access-date=July 17, 2021|archive-date=July 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717213749/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/naked-satan-statue_n_5799438|url-status=live}}</ref> A life-size representation of a red devil with a large erect penis, making the sign of the horns hand gesture, the statue was erected without authorization in Clark Drive Plaza, an abandoned concrete amphitheater on the west side of Clark Drive at Grandview Highway North. It was made of mixed materials, including a modified mannequin, and was placed on an empty pedestal<ref name="five_years_ago">{{Cite web|last=Kurucz|first=John|date=September 9, 2019|title=Five years ago, a giant statue of Satan with an erection enthralled Vancouver|url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/events-and-entertainment/penis-satan-statue-public-art-history-vancouver-1945590|access-date=July 17, 2021|website=Vancouver is Awesome|archive-date=July 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716155801/https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/events-and-entertainment/penis-satan-statue-public-art-history-vancouver-1945590|url-status=live}}</ref> that previously displayed a three-foot-tall Christopher Columbus statue (honouring Angelo Branca).<ref>{{Cite web|last=O'Connor|first=Naoibh|date=October 2, 2014|title=Archives: Memory loss — Clark Drive plaza sits forgotten and neglected|url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/courier-archive/news/archives-memory-loss-clark-drive-plaza-sits-forgotten-and-neglected-2986236|access-date=2021-07-16|website=Vancouver Is Awesome|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716155803/https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/courier-archive/news/archives-memory-loss-clark-drive-plaza-sits-forgotten-and-neglected-2986236|url-status=live}}</ref> Vancouver commuters were able to see the statue from the Expo Line of the SkyTrain,<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 14, 2014|title=Petitions call for return of naked 'Penis Satan' after Vancouver removes lewd statue from park|work=National Post|publisher=Postmedia News|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/petitions-call-for-return-of-naked-penis-satan-after-vancouver-removes-lewd-statue-from-park|access-date=July 17, 2021|archive-date=September 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230911232821/https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/petitions-call-for-return-of-naked-penis-satan-after-vancouver-removes-lewd-statue-from-park|url-status=live}}</ref> near the ''East Van Cross'', which is located on the opposite side of the tracks.

== Statue removal == Local Vancouver television stations CTV Vancouver and Global BC reported the news story as City of Vancouver Public Works employees removed the statue.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 9, 2014|title=What the devil? Sexually explicit Satan statue appears in East Van|work=CTV Vancouver|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/what-the-devil-sexually-explicit-satan-statue-appears-in-east-van/|access-date=July 17, 2021|archive-date=July 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717213752/https://bc.ctvnews.ca/what-the-devil-sexually-explicit-satan-statue-appears-in-east-van-1.1999196|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Meiszner|first=Peter|date=September 9, 2014|title=Petition asks City of Vancouver to re-erect naked Satan statue|work=Global News|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/1554181/satan-statue-erected-alongside-busy-roadway-in-vancouver/|access-date=July 17, 2021|archive-date=July 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717213751/https://globalnews.ca/news/1554181/satan-statue-erected-alongside-busy-roadway-in-vancouver/|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, several petitions were launched requesting the City of Vancouver return the statue to its original location.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Capps|first=Kriston|date=September 12, 2014|title=Some in Vancouver Prefer Satan to Christopher Columbus|work=Bloomberg LP|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-09-12/some-in-vancouver-prefer-satan-to-christopher-columbus|access-date=July 17, 2021|archive-date=July 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717083938/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-09-12/some-in-vancouver-prefer-satan-to-christopher-columbus|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Berman|first=Sarah|date=September 11, 2014|title=This Guy Started a Petition to Return a Massive Boner-Wielding Satan Statue to East Vancouver|work=Vice News|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/this-guy-started-a-petition-to-return-a-massive-boner-wielding-satan-statue-to-east-vancouver-432/|access-date=July 17, 2021|archive-date=July 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717213749/https://www.vice.com/en/article/mvkx5p/this-guy-started-a-petition-to-return-a-massive-boner-wielding-satan-statue-to-east-vancouver-432|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Art community reception == Reception from the art community was decidedly mixed, drawing strong opinions about the statue and its sexually explicit content as public art. Art market website Artnet compared the statue to "Korea's boner Spider-Man, Poland's peeing Lenin, and Oklahoma's Satanic courthouse monument".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cascone|first=Sarah|date=2014-09-13|title=Horny Satan Statue Wreaks Havoc in Canada|url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/horny-satan-statue-causes-panic-confusion-in-canada-101277|access-date=2021-07-16|website=Artnet News|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716155802/https://news.artnet.com/art-world/horny-satan-statue-causes-panic-confusion-in-canada-101277|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ammar Mahimwalla, Project Manager for the Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale, stated, "It was really well made as a piece, and whoever put it there did a good job of putting it in.&nbsp;... With the city, sometimes, there is censorship – at some level – of what art means and what art is."

Bryan Newson, Public Art Program Manager for the City of Vancouver, commented, "It was one of those wonderful, spontaneous interventions by – I think – a prankster.&nbsp;... I couldn't help laughing, obviously it could not remain in the public realm."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Holliday|first=Ian|date=2014-09-19|title=Devil statue prompts public art discussion|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/devil-statue-prompts-public-art-discussion/|access-date=2021-07-16|website=British Columbia|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716155802/https://bc.ctvnews.ca/devil-statue-prompts-public-art-discussion-1.2016244|url-status=live}}</ref>

When asked if the Vancouver Art Gallery would have housed the statue, its spokesperson Hanah Van Borek replied, "I sincerely doubt we would ever have this on view."<ref name="five_years_ago" />

== Artist == In 2019, an anonymous artist with the pseudonym "Obsidian" claimed responsibility for the statue.<ref name="five_years_ago" />

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{Public art in Vancouver}}

Category:2014 disestablishments in British Columbia Category:2014 establishments in British Columbia Category:2014 sculptures Category:Cultural depictions of the Devil Category:Culture jamming Category:Nude sculptures of men Category:Obscenity controversies in sculpture Category:Outdoor sculptures in Vancouver Category:Removed statues Category:Sculptures of men in British Columbia Category:Statues in British Columbia