Artist John Vesty spent three months producing 22 paintings (wow that was fast!) and had arranged to display them for four weeks at the North Norfolk District Council offices in Cromer.
All but one of his oil paintings in the exhibition called 'Figures in Light' were nudes. According to the Telegraph he was left "baffled, irritated and disappointed" when his paintings were taken down by council officials after complaints that they were "offensive".
Mr Vesty said the council had raised no objection when the exhibition was booked in the first floor gallery at the council offices. He said he even emailed the council three sample photographs of his pictures so officials could see what was going to be displayed.
Karl Read, the council's leisure and cultural services manager, said the artwork had been displayed in an area used by many members of staff and the public. He said: "In this case we received a number of complaints from members of staff and union representatives who found the paintings offensive....This is not a case of political correctness. Rather, it is a balanced reaction to some members of staff finding the artwork offensive.
North Norfolk Artspace has put up a replacement exhibition by local artist Andrew Church, featuring scenes including Cromer beach and geese over Salthouse.
An example of his work was shown with the article and was not in any way offensive, well certainly not to my eyes. Sometimes it surprise me what offends people.. Hiho
9 comments:
The same thing happened in a hotel in Wexford during the Opera Festival last year; a number of (extremely mild) nudes were removed from an exhibition there. While one could argue that there are serious intellectual arguments for and against the nude as a subject, to remove them because showing an unclothed adult body is offensive to some (and how many, I wonder?) people is just pathetic.
Either prudes or masturbators, one could take one's pick.
Well, I suggest they do plainly leave the walls of their etablissement as they are - naked.
It's alll pretty dumb. Naked walls Sean? You wil have complaints a plenty for that!
Well put Nursie
No nudes in our local art show... the locals are too sensitive. I think it's utterly ridiculous!!
Help! Help! I'm bein' repressed!
I s'pose the works of the masters send them right over the brink, yeah?
Prudes and Nudes Now On Display at North Norfolk District COunsel!
It's pretty dumb Knatolee
It must do Mojo!
Haha EWBL that would be a good lne for the advert!
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