PARIS—A few dozen protesters gathered outside the gates of Versailles today, saying "Jeff Koons Versailles," an exhibition of 16 of the post-Pop artist's monumental sculptures within the palace and gardens, is disrespectful to French heritage, reports Bloomberg.

"This is like a burglary," said demonstrator Arnaud-Aaron Upinsky, who said he represented a union of French writers. "They want to replace Louis XIV with Jeff Koons. They want to replace France with the United States." He then pulled out balloons with names that rhyme with Koons written on them and popped them one by one.

"It would never be my intention in any manner to be involved in a dialogue which is disrespectful, even to one person," Koons told reporters at a press conference inside. "I have complete respect for Versailles, and I have respect for each individual that's coming to Versailles."

Asked why his works were installed throughout the palace's main galleries rather than in one discrete wing, he said, "It just seemed appropriate, because the work wants to be engaged. It wants to participate in a dialogue."

Jean-Jacques Aillagon, the former French culture minister who now heads Versailles, defended the the exhibition. "This is an exceptional place, but not a dead place,'' he told reporters. "It's a place that is alive, and that calls for respect, but not worship."

"He can have an exhibition anywhere he wants, but not at Versailles,'' said Nicole Rigault, a retired upholsterer who had made a special trip to Paris to protest the show. "This is not art. Art involves history, research. To blow up balloons and put them here and there, no.''