Flesh and moans

Jun 29 2008 by Ken Oxley, Sunday Sun

THE art world’s most famous one-trick pony — Spencer Tunick — has been at it again.

Spncer is renowned for his photographs of crowds of naked people in public places.

It was an interesting idea at first and — dare I say it without sounding pretentious — quite thought-provoking.

It was all about seeing people out of context amid familiar surroundings, turning the everyday into the extraordinary and so on. So yes, I get it, Spencer . . . but don’t you think it’s time to move on now? Haven’t you got any new ideas up your sleeve?

Of course, Spencer’s work will always attract media attention because, let’s be honest, it’s pure titillation for the masses.

His latest photocall took place earlier this week in Dublin, where I’m told the craic was good . . . sorry, couldn’t resist.

What irks me, however, is the way some people insist their involvement is some sort of profound — even political — statement, instead of just admitting that the majority of folk are there to have a bit of a laugh.

One such participant took umbrage at the way the story was covered by an Irish newspaper.

Writing on its website, he moaned: “It’s a shame the journalists covering this event didn’t look a little deeper into the profound experience many of us had.

“It wasn’t just a laugh to get our bits out. It was art. It was elevation, primal and communal. It was reclaiming our bodies back from a media that tells us to please go and hide in shame so we can keep selling you things you won’t buy if you’re not insecure.”

An interesting perspective, that. But if the media wants people to “hide in shame”, why have so many of Spencer’s photographs been published?

And, presumably, if we ignored them, participants would complain about that too.

Honestly . . . there’s just no pleasing some people.