Nicole Eisenman's Skulptur Projekte Münster work vandalized with swastika ahead of German elections

Nicole Eisenman's sculpture installation at Skulptur Projekte Münster was defaced with spray-painted symbols including a swastika and phallic imagery during the night of September 22, 2017. This marked the second vandalism incident targeting the American artist's work at the decennial exhibition. The installation features five androgynous bronze-and-plaster figures arranged around a basin, exploring themes of ambiguity and non-normative body politics. Organizers condemned the attack as reflecting violence faced by LGBTQ+ communities in daily life. The vandalism occurred just before Germany's federal elections on September 24, where the far-right AfD party secured 13% of votes and parliamentary representation for the first time. The exhibition team issued a statement connecting the artwork's conceptual values to the political climate. Eisenman's work addresses gender fluidity and queer identity through figurative sculpture. The incident highlighted tensions surrounding public art and political expression in contemporary Germany.