Stay of execution for vagina mural at Swedish middle school

NYKOPING, Sweden, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Officials in a Swedish city said they will listen to public opinions on a middle school's smiling vagina mural before painting over the artwork.

The Nykoping office of children, youth and cultural affairs said last week the colorful painting of a smiling vagina by Gothenburg artist Carolina Falkholt would be painted over at the Tessin middle school, but officials have backed off the earlier announcement and said they will invite public debate about the issue before the artwork is removed, TheLocal.se reported Thursday.

The reversal came after members of the public, including Tessin school Principal Harke Steenbergen, voiced support for Falkholt and the mural's continued presence at the school, which caters to students between the ages of 13 and 15.

Steenbergen said he liked the mural and "its message."

"I see many pedagogic advantages to having her art in the school," Steenbergen said.