【1995 Archives】

Melania Trump may995 Archivesleft her Slovenian hometown of Sevnica, but thanks to conceptual artist Ales "Maxi" Zupevc, her presence is still, um... looming.

On Friday, a life-size wooden sculpture of the U.S. first lady was inaugurated in Sevnica. It was commissioned by artist Brad Downey, who went to Zupevc with a vision. Zupevc carved that vision into a tree using a chainsaw, and now the world has this.

Conceptual artist Ales 'Maxi' Zupevc's monument of Melania Trump. Credit: read JURE MAKOVEC/AFP/Getty Images

The wooden statue depicts Melania Trump wearing a blue dress and raising her left hand like she did at her husband’s inauguration in 2017. To honor the first lady, the sculpture now overlooks a field in Sevnica, but it's receiving a slew of mixed reviews.

SEE ALSO: Trump praises 1775 revolutionary army, claims they 'took over airports.' Uh.

"If the monument wants to be a parody, then the artist did succeed," Nika, a 24-year-old local architecture student, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). "We in Sevnica can only laugh and, at the same time, hold our heads in our hands over their [the Trumps'] catastrophic reputation."

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The Daily Beast noted another local told news outlet ITVthat the sculpture doesn't resemble Melania at all. "It’s a Smurfette. It's a disgrace," they said.

As for Downey, he gets people's confusion, but wholeheartedly embraces the carving. "I can understand that people think they do not come very close to their physical appearance," Downey told AFP. But he said he personally finds the work of art "absolutely beautiful."

Here are some dramatically lit shots of the statue for you to observe. Reflect on them. Form your own opinion!

Conceptual artist Ales 'Maxi' Zupevc's monument of Melania Trump. Credit: JURE MAKOVEC/AFP/Getty Images Conceptual artist Ales 'Maxi' Zupevc's monument of Melania Trump. Credit: JURE MAKOVEC/AFP/Getty Images Conceptual artist Ales 'Maxi' Zupevc's monument of Melania Trump. Credit: JURE MAKOVEC/AFP/Getty Images Conceptual artist Ales 'Maxi' Zupevc's monument of Melania Trump. Credit: JURE MAKOVEC/AFP/Getty Images Conceptual artist Ales 'Maxi' Zupevc's monument of Melania Trump. Credit: JURE MAKOVEC/AFP/Getty Images

Zupevc believes his wooden Melania carving is the first ever monument of the U.S. first lady, but it comes in a long line of Sevnica Trump tributes, including Melania-themed cake, tea, slippers, salami, and more.

Looks like the people of Sevnica plan to carry on Melania Mania for as long as they can.

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