(ANSA-AFP) - LJUBLJANA, 10 LUG - The US artist behind a wooden statue of Melania Trump in Slovenia said Thursday that he was mulling an "artistic response" after his work was burned down at the weekend. American conceptual artist Brad Downey erected the life-sized statue near the US First Lady's hometown of Sevnica a year ago as part of a project aimed at exploring her roots. But the statue sparked mixed reactions. While some saw it as an effective parody, others said it looked like a scarecrow and should be removed. Slovenian police said they were now probing the July 5 burning down of the statue.

"Unknown perpetrators tried to burn down the wooden statue in the early hours of July 5," police spokesman Robert Perc told AFP. Downey, who coincidentally was in Slovenia when the statue was set on fire, managed to rush to Sevnica and remove it before pictures of the damaged sculpture went viral. (ANSA-AFP).