Bill Henson’s artwork is beautiful.
The artwork I have seen of his perfectly conveys the delicacy, fragility and beauty of human life.
I don’t have the words to describe how horrified I am that our society could construe his work as anything close to pornography. My chest constricts and I feel like crying when ever I think that my neighbours abhor such beauty. My sadness is for their loss, nothing more.
We all see art in a context, the context of our own lives.
It is the viewer who sexualises these works, not the artist.
If it is truly the case that the majority of us cannot look at a photo of a child’s body without sexualising it, that speaks volumes about the majority, not the artist. It also speaks very poignantly to the depth of society’s fear and sense of vulnerability toward those who would take advantage of our children.
Those of us, the public, who have read and bought into the media hype, need to take a long cold shower and get over themselves. This whole affair truly, a very very sad reflection on our society.
A link to The Australian’s gallery of supposedly “offending images”.... I’m glad they included the Landscape at the end… idiots.
http://media.theaustralian.com.au/multimedia/2008/05/23-henson/index.html
Gracey, 4 months ago
That link only shows three images – and one is a landscape. And neither of those images show much.
Frankly, some of his work has quite a bit of sexual inuendo in it and while it might not fit the “porn” category, it definitely has a exploitive feel to it. It’s difficult not to look at images like these and not read something sexual into it.
Pavement Magazine
I suspect that in today’s world there’s a shove on to protect children and minors (and their images) from being used by pedophiles, and certainly some of these would fit into that category. Some of those predators can be turned on by a family snap of a toddler in a bathtub so these images which are loaded with a sensual air would catch their eye.
Nicholas Vincent in reply to Gracey’s comment, 4 months ago
I do agree with you Gracy… ended up talking about this over dinner with friends and it heated up quite a bit. It’s tough, there really are very good arguments on both sides.
Gracey, 4 months ago
There’s quite a discussion going on in the forums if you’re interested.
BillyLee, 4 months ago
I think he took it too far, and as a parent with young children of both sexes I think using children as a way to express your art is a decision you have to make. I know I wouldn’t make it and draw the line. I think its sad he even thought to put his art in a gallery. I must be a prude or something. From what I saw it was offensive to me. Hey thats just me, I am a parent who wants to protect her children.
Nicholas Vincent in reply to BillyLee’s comment, 4 months ago
I don’t think you’re a prude at all BillyLee for making that decision. We all have to make a decision where we stand. after reading more about all of this and thinking it through, I think most of my anger lies with how the media handled it all…
BillyLee, 4 months ago
The media do make things worse sometimes, I too feel that way, but than again, if they weren’t there what would we know, after Diana died I have been skeptical of the media, but thanks Nicholas, because I was scared when I saw your comment, I thought you were going to have a go at me. Thank God you were just being nice, in a world where so many people are angry all the time.