Thursday, July 31, 2008

Here We Go Again

Yet another art versus porn kerfuffle in Australia. An art gallery is featuring two apparently nude women in a bathtub in their street window display.
No complaints have been received by police or local council, but the stunt has raised eyebrows in the conservative city of Brisbane, where the gallery is located, prompting criticism from the the Australian Family Association.

President Mark Holzworth described it as "childish, immature, teenage schoolboy voyeur stuff" that added no credibility to the gallery or the artists featured.

"This will not attract art-lovers, it will attract voyeurs which is not good for Brisbane or women in general," Mr Holzworth said. "I thought we had grown up as a society. Not even brothels would be this brazen to promote their services."
No complaints have been received, but suddenly someone is calling these models hookers. If "growing up" means complete intolerance of any type of nudity, then let me stay a child.

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1 comment:

Bill said...

I tend to come down on the side of "art" in the "art v. porn" debates, but there are some legitimate gripes with this exhibition.

First, no one has really raised an issue with the art exhibition. They have objected to the advertisement of the exhibition in the window adjacent to a motorway during rush hour.

I am in favor of freedom of expression, but in this case, the advertisement in the window appears to be intended to cause controversy for the purpose of drumming up business and might create a safety issue for motorists.

There is nothing wrong with this artists' exposition. There is also nothing wrong with expecting art galleries to advertise in a responsible manner.