On Giant Robots, Cluster-Boobs, Bare Bellies and Other Works of Public "Art"

Fantastically bad public art used to be de rigueur here in Beijing - longer term residents may recall the infamous Sanlitun Beer Mug statue (which doubled as a xiaomaibu) and the kitschy "Keebler Elves tree" that used to grace the stretch of sidewalk in front of the old Pacific Century Plaza from a few years back:

The Global Times recently ran an article citing a few notorious examples from the even more recent past, including Beijing artist Wang Kaifang's Yanr - a piece depicting a bubbling mountain of lime green boobs that stood in front of the Schengen International Hotel in Laiguangyin until it was finally removed in early 2012.

The photo also appears as part of a collection of 59 examples of really bad public art from around China selected by a panel of artists and critics that are up for vote on Sohu.com as part of its "National Top Ten Ugly Sculpture Selection." Behold some of the competition from other parts of China below: