Gumleaf
May 22nd, 2008, 09:58 PM
08:00 AEST Fri May 23 2008
Prime minister Kevin Rudd has expressed his disgust at photographs of naked children which led to the closure of a Sydney art exhibition yesterday.
"This is the first time that I've seen them — I think they're revolting," Mr Rudd said in an interview on Nine's TODAY Show.
"I can't understand why we can't just allow kids to enjoy … the innocence of childhood."
Police are investigating whether the photographic prints of topless children, by Australian photographer Bill Henson, breached child pornography laws.
"Police have spoken to the photographer and gallery owners," Rose Bay police Superintendent Allan Sicard told reporters outside the gallery.
"As a result of this conversation, all parties have agreed the exhibition will be temporarily closed to allow further inquiries to be made.
"These inquiries include speaking to the subject of these photos and her parents."
A statement posted at the front entrance of the Roslyn Oxley gallery revealed plans to continue the show.
“After much consideration we have decided to withdraw a number of works from the current Bill Henson exhibition that have attracted controversy,” it read.
“The current show, without the said works, will be re-opened for viewing when it has been rehung.
“We apologise for any inconvenience.”
The gallery also described Henson as an internationally respected artist.
Public outrage forced the gallery to cancel last night's scheduled opening with a child protection group calling the images pornography.
Specialist child exploitation detectives also referred the gallery's website — which featured images from the exhibition — to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
But artists and gallery patrons view the shutdown as "censorship" of genuine art.
Gallery patron Stephen Graham said he felt uncomfortable with the adult portrayal of children but denied the exhibition should be shut down.
"This is artistic censorship," he said.
Ann Elias, a senior art lecturer at the University of Sydney, was among those arriving at the venue to find it closed.
"It's another infringement of the freedom of expression and it's just not acceptable," she said, labelling the cancellation "a disgrace".
Henson, 52, is renowned for his controversial art which has previously portrayed adolescents in states of despair and intoxication.
"Moments of transition and metamorphoses are important in everyone’s lives," he said in 2003.
Prime minister Kevin Rudd has expressed his disgust at photographs of naked children which led to the closure of a Sydney art exhibition yesterday.
"This is the first time that I've seen them — I think they're revolting," Mr Rudd said in an interview on Nine's TODAY Show.
"I can't understand why we can't just allow kids to enjoy … the innocence of childhood."
Police are investigating whether the photographic prints of topless children, by Australian photographer Bill Henson, breached child pornography laws.
"Police have spoken to the photographer and gallery owners," Rose Bay police Superintendent Allan Sicard told reporters outside the gallery.
"As a result of this conversation, all parties have agreed the exhibition will be temporarily closed to allow further inquiries to be made.
"These inquiries include speaking to the subject of these photos and her parents."
A statement posted at the front entrance of the Roslyn Oxley gallery revealed plans to continue the show.
“After much consideration we have decided to withdraw a number of works from the current Bill Henson exhibition that have attracted controversy,” it read.
“The current show, without the said works, will be re-opened for viewing when it has been rehung.
“We apologise for any inconvenience.”
The gallery also described Henson as an internationally respected artist.
Public outrage forced the gallery to cancel last night's scheduled opening with a child protection group calling the images pornography.
Specialist child exploitation detectives also referred the gallery's website — which featured images from the exhibition — to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
But artists and gallery patrons view the shutdown as "censorship" of genuine art.
Gallery patron Stephen Graham said he felt uncomfortable with the adult portrayal of children but denied the exhibition should be shut down.
"This is artistic censorship," he said.
Ann Elias, a senior art lecturer at the University of Sydney, was among those arriving at the venue to find it closed.
"It's another infringement of the freedom of expression and it's just not acceptable," she said, labelling the cancellation "a disgrace".
Henson, 52, is renowned for his controversial art which has previously portrayed adolescents in states of despair and intoxication.
"Moments of transition and metamorphoses are important in everyone’s lives," he said in 2003.