We tend to make much ado about nudity these days. Is it acceptable or not? If yes, to what extent and under which circumstances? The obvious reason for all these questions is that today nudity is inseparable from sex. We certainly fail to perceive the naked human body in the same way as the ancient Greeks or Romans did. Not many of us can appreciate the beauty of the naked body with detachment, i.e. without physically grabbing it. As Kenneth Clark put it correctly in his book Nudity in Art, in antique culture nakedness was received on a philosophical level that made it possible for the Olympic athletes to compete with no clothes on. And maybe today’s athlete could also bare it all with no reservations – but would it be accepted by the public?
Spencer Tunick challenges the public with exactly the same question. His installations featuring the naked volunteers have been commissioned worldwide, from Buenos Aires to Vienna. This year, however, Tunick is setting the new record: he will be creating his first multisite installation across Manchester and Salford, and he will be doing so in response to the famous Salford artist, LS Lowry. Lowry was known for painting “matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs“, and it is interesting to see how Tunick is going to use and adapt this metaphor.
The project entitled Everyday People will see volunteers taken by heated buses to various locations where the expert Tunick will orchestrate them into artistic shapes. Given the weather that these two sunny cities are famous for, it may take more from a volunteer than just the courage to strip naked. But those who do brave it all will forever enter the book of 21st century art – and the history of Manchester and Salford. As characteristic of his work, Tunick will take photographs and film the human compositions, and the completed work will be on display at The Lowry between 12 June and 26 September this year.
To make this project happen, Tunick and The Lowry need YOU. You can register your details on the website, and filming will take place over two days, 1 and 2 May. As you may remember from my last year’s post, 1 of May is celebrated in some countries as the Labour Day. It looks like this year it will be the Art’s Labour Day, thanks to the New York-based artist.
Illustrations:
Photo is the courtesy of Spencer Tunick’s official website.
LS Lowry, A Village Square.
