Anything for art, right? How about hanging out with three thousand fellow naked people painted in shades of blue? It's definitely not an activity for me, but artist Spencer Tunick has a large enough following and body of work to attract thousands to help him create some visually stunning pieces.
On Saturday [Juy 9th], 3,200 people stripped naked and gathered in the city center of Hull, U.K., as instructed by the American photographer Spencer Tunick, The Guardian reports. The volunteers arrived at 3 a.m. and helped paint each other four different shades of blue for the three-hour photo shoot.
Tunick is known for his "ambitious" pieces featuring hordes of naked people: This particular one was to represent the rising sea levels caused by climate change, Tunick told The Guardian. "It's the idea that the bodies and humanity is flooding the streets," he explained. "The natural, soft vulnerable body that's up against the concrete world – it creates a dynamic that interests me."
The weather on Saturday in Hull was reportedly not great, but that didn't stop anyone from participating. Tunick told the Daily Mailhe couldn't "believe" the participants' resolve: "It was cold, it was chilly, people had to put lotion-like paint all over their bodies – every part."
Tunick's final photographs will be shown in a Hull gallery in 2017, though if you're eager to see more of his work sooner, the Huffington Post reports he's asked 100 women to pose naked at next week's Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
What will the art instillation be in Cleveland?
For this particular shoot, titled “Everything She Says Means Everything,” 100 naked women will hold up large mirror discs that, according to the artist’s website, represent “reflecting the knowledge and wisdom of progressive women and the concept of ‘Mother Nature’” onto the convention center where the RNC is taking place.
“By holding mirrors, we hope to suggest that women are a reflection and embodiment of nature, the sun, the sky and the land,” the statement continues. “The mirrors communicate that we are a reflection of ourselves, each other, and of, the world that surrounds us. The woman becomes the future and the future becomes the woman.” – huffpost.com
To see an example of what the Cleveland piece may look like, head over to http://spencertunickcleveland.com/ . This July will not be the first time Tunick has worked his art in Cleveland.
The Cleveland event took place 5 years after we moved from Cleveland to Colorado. I’m sure it has been a tremendous cultural event. Cleveland is notable for its significant cultural tradition and heritage, and for my favorite place — the Cleveland Museum of Art. Still, I’m certain the Tunick’s event has shaken up the town and stirred some passions. It has been, indeed, an uproariously controversial affair.
On June 26, 2004, Tunick created his largest North American installation to date. As part of an exhibition of his work at the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (MOCA), Tunick positioned more than 2,700 people along East 9th Street. The figures rhythmically define this urban space while adding a sense of humanity. The project was a compelling union of sculpture, performance, and public art beautifully captured in this striking color image.
For more on Tunick's art, head over to huffpost to see some of his massive photo shoots as well as learn more about what subject matter he is aiming to draw attention to with his pieces.
Would you partake in one of Tunick's works of art?
h/t: text and blue images from yahoo.com
other images from https://valentinagurarie.wordpress.com/tag/spencer-tunick/