The massive penis was created by the radical art collective
Voina, or War, who painted the organ on the bridge to highlight the
security measures that will be put in place when St. Petersburg
hosts the International Economic Forum from June 17.
Measuring 65 metres (220 ft) long and 27 metres across, the big
penis rises and glistens in the light whenever the bridge is raised
to let ships pass beneath, framed against a backdrop of the
imposing architecture of the former capital city of the Russian
Empire.
'We have painted a giant phallus to show what the FSB and Interior
Ministry are doing in terms of security for the forum,' Voina said
in a statement. The FSB is Russia's main internal security agency,
the successor to the KGB - and when the bridge is raised, the
now-erect penis stands right beside its local headquarters.
The International Economic Forum will bring together politicians,
including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and international
business leaders.
The penis was painted on Monday, and one of the Voina artists has
subsequently been fined by police over the penis. The penis was
still visible on Wednesday.
