Holzscheuß in the Allgäu: Oversized wooden penises cause excitement!

Holzscheuß in the Allgäu: Oversized wooden penises cause excitement!

In the last few weeks, an amusing and at the same time bizarre art event has kept citizens in the Allgäu and beyond busy. The display of oversized wooden penises and even a wooden vulva in various public places caused plenty of conversation and differing opinions. These works of art have not only appeared in Marktoberdorf, where a wooden phallus on the roundabout has been smiling at drivers since mid-May, but also in places like Ruderatshofen and Schwabmünchen, where a two-meter-high wooden penis was even presented in front of the town hall. An incident in Ruderatshofen was particularly impressive, where a carved wooden vulva was discovered in mid-May, which is now waiting for its owner in the lost property office.

The art campaign has a long tradition in the Allgäu, as merkur.de reports. The first wooden penis was positioned years ago on the Grünten in the Allgäu Alps. Since then, such actions have been observed again and again in various places on Friday nights. For example, a man-sized sculpture was placed in the roundabout in Schwabmünchen on the night of May 4th. More and more artists and strangers seem to be joining the trend, including a group of eight men from Gennach who were stopped by police while trying to set up another wooden penis in front of Antenne Bayern's radio station.

Opinions and reactions

Opinions about this art event are divided. While many passers-by in Schwabmünchen react to the wooden sculptures with amazement and laughter, Thomas Eigstler, the mayor of Wiggensbach, finds the campaign tasteless. He reported that a similar sculpture in his community was removed just days after it was installed. The public order office in Schwabmünchen is also ambivalent: the action is classified as “very funny”, although dismantling is already being planned.

The aura of these wooden penises is not only offensive, but also invites discussion about the meaning of art in public spaces. Is it a silent protest, a joke or perhaps a competition among strangers? The origins of this form of cultural expression remain unclear, but the visibility and niche popularity of the works of art shows that they are very popular. [Charivari](https://www.charivari.de/nachrichten/deutschland-und-welt/schnitzkunst-mit-augenzwinkern-auf-einmal- Tauchen-ueberall-holzpenisse-auf/1069724) reports that these phenomena are neither new nor isolated, but there is a concentrated accumulation of such sculptures in the region these days.

Art in public spaces

But regardless of the creators' goals and citizens' reactions, it is remarkable how these actions are viewed as public art. They raise questions, stimulate imaginations and get people talking about them. In today's world, where art is not always easy to grasp, such projects bring art to people in an accessible and humorous way. As part of a larger movement that is gaining momentum in the art scene, this action highlights the role of art in our society. Further information about art events in public spaces can be found at graffitiartist.de.