Bill Henson's recent exhibition, which included naked youth, at the Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery in Paddington, Sydney, was cancelled following complaints by Hetty Johnston, a child protection campaigner.
Police seized some of the exhibits in order to work out what charges could be laid. In the end, no federal charges were laid. In the meantime, every gallery in Australia examined their collections in a climate of vigorous public debate, joined in (somewhat unnecessarily) by the Australian Prime Minister.
See
- The Age 'The controversial career of Bill Henson'(25 May 2008)
- Eureka Street (2 June 2008)
Fellow artist Victoria Larielle is exhibiting her photographs in support of Bill Henson and to protest against censorship (Herald Sun, 3 June 2008)
What is really wrong with this picture (excuse the pun) is that there are people who are unable to see photographs of nudity, particularly of children or youth for what it really is, innocent nudity in its natural state. The real people with the problem are those who see things that are not there. They should not be the moral arbiters of society.
Nudity/nakedness does not have to be sexualised.
What is more disturbing are advertising images of children in provocative poses who are still fully clothed. Even worse are American child pageants.
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I went to the football club today, but the database I was working on was down so I didn't stay very long. I went to Thomas and Sarah's place and went dog walking with them and Timmy and Morgan, the Beagles who are not very obedient. No wonder I so enjoy walking Kane, who is such a pleasure.
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