TateShots

Cornelia Parker's Folkestone Mermaid

The artist immortalised a woman in the pose of Copenhagen's Little Mermaid

A 38-year-old mother-of-two has been immortalised in bronze in the pose of Copenhagen's Little Mermaid by artist Cornelia Parker.

The work is one of several commissions for Folkestone Triennial 2011. In this film we follow the process of its creation. When Copenhagen's Little Mermaid was created in 1913, Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen's wife modelled for the statue, which celebrates the fictional heroine of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale.

Last autumn, all women in Folkestone were invited to send a picture of themselves to model for Cornelia Parker's version of the statue. Georgina Baker was chosen from 50 applicants and the statue is now installed in Folkestone harbour.

find out more

Close