Spencer Tunick’s Bodies of Art

All images courtesy of Spencer Tunick.

Spencer Tunick is an American photographer best known for organising large-scale nude shoots.

Since 1994, he has organised over one hundred live installations of nude figure in public that encompass dozens, hundreds or thousands of volunteers. His works challenge the world’s views of nudity and are often the centre of debates on censorship, privacy and the fine line of art. As part of Brisbane’s leading queer arts and culture festival Melt Spencer is seeking volunteers for a unique opportunity to participate in a series of photographic installations on Saturday 18 November. We got to chat to him in detail about how to get involved if that is your thing.

Spencer, you’re coming to Brisbane. What for?

The Melt Festival approached me to create a series of works in Brisbane. One of my favourite things I have done recently is go on a journey with people as opposed to going to one location. This is an opportunity to work along the Brisbane River in different locations and so in a way, it keeps the idea of the travelling artist alive in my work.

The last shoot you were out here in Sydney raising money and awareness for skin cancer. Is there any particular awareness you are trying to drive for this one?

I consider these works installations that I document with photography. I try to stay away from the word shoot. It’s collaborative where people become performance artists for a morning and then go back to their normal lives. For a moment they perform temporary installations (thank god it’s temporary). But yes it’s apart of a Melt festival that highlights the LGBQTI+ and a bringing together of as many genders, sexes and ethnicities as possible. Celebrating all genders, all people. It’s a work be forward and fearless and promote the beauty of the queer community.

How many people are you hoping to get this time?

We’re hoping for 500,000.

Wow.

No (laughs) stop the press. Just kidding. We’re hoping enough people show up to represent all the different people in the community including First Nation participants as well. As many people that feel comfortable with their bodies collaborating for a short period of time.

I personally cannot image anything worse than being nude in front of thousands of people – why do you think I’m like that? Is there something wrong with me?

Well here’s the thing. I’m never there to convince people to do the work because you’re going to be disappointed. What I try to do is just put the invitation out there and we just want people to show up that a kind of 50/50. If you can never imagine doing it then you probably won’t enjoy it but if you’re on the fence and you do it then 99.9% of the time you’ll have a great experience.

Good to know. Which country do you think is the most okay with being naked?

I would say Mexico.

Interesting.

There's something about Mexicans where the body and art being nude in a dignified way is something they’re really into.

Do you also take the photo naked to make people comfortable?

I think I would freak people out. Me running around climbing up ladders with tripods and equipment in the nude is not the point. I think people want me there to concentrate on the project at hand.

Where is the line between tasteful nudity and creepy nudity? How do you do the tasteful nudity right?

I try not to wear a raincoat when photographing. Nah (laughs) it’s all about the idea and trying to create a relationship with the body in nude form to the landscape and environment.

When did you come up with this concept of nude installations?

Well I have always been interested in Yayoi Kusama works from the late ‘60s and Carolee Schneemann so it was just about combining body art with a little bit of land / environmental art. The joyful, whimsical, rebellious Yayoi Kusama meets Richard Long vibe.  

Very nice, and what is the message you’re trying to portray with this body of work? Excuse the pun.

I am hoping that you and your whole family show up awkward as ever (laughs). Nah, nah, I’m hoping that people go to brisbanepowerhouse.org/spencertunick and get a feeling for the site and make a decision to take a leap of faith into an art work that will really raise the bar when it comes to connectivity between people and the river.

Register your interest for the installation here.