Bill Henson Finally Speaks Out: “She Loved It!”
It seems like a lifetime ago that everyone in this country was up in arms over controversial photographer Bill Henson, but it was only back in May! It was a crazy time, with one half of the country pointing the finger and screaming “DIRTY PEDO ART FREAK!” at anyone who dared to take a photograph of their off-spring naked in the bath, and the other half photographing their off-spring naked in the bath and then popping the picture on a magazine cover as a giant “eat my poo” gesture to the Henson haters.
During all the kerfuffle, columnists, letter writers, and Prime Ministers all took a turn in giving their opinion on Bill Henson’s art to the media, but the one person who kept their trap shut was Bill Henson himself.
No more!
Photographer Bill Henson has broken his silence to launch a defence of his controversial art, which was decried earlier this year as verging on child pornography.
And what does he have to say for himself?
Mr Henson says the girl, and her family, remain strong supporters of the photographic work and he also only regretted the public furore it had caused.
“(The girl’s parents) are fine because they believe in what they believe in,” the Melbourne-based world-renowned photographer has told Fairfax.
“They see their involvement in the work as a good thing, a positive thing.
“(And) unlike everyone else, I do have first-hand experience of working with these people (child models) – working with them for years and seeing them grow up.
First-hand? Working? Child models? Hands working on child models? DIRTY PEDO ART FREAK!
Bill admits that he probably shouldn’t have used a picture of a nude 12 year old girl on the advertisements for his exhibition as those kinds of things tend to make the masses reach for their pitchforks.
Henson conceded his choice of image for the flyer to advertise the Sydney exhibition – an full-length almost nude image – was a mistake, but to him it remained the image that was the “most alive”.
Wait… which images were taken of naked children who were NOT ALIVE?! DIRTY PEDO ART FREAK!
Just kidding. I get art, Bill. I’n fact, I’m off to smoke a giant spliff which happens to contain celebrity remains. Just which celebrity, I dare not say. But they will be free. They will finally be free.
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Comments
There is no art in a naked body regardless of age of the model, except the self gratification for the photographer. The ‘controversial’ photography work from Hanson is (If there were any art in it) border on the amateurish with no photographic value.
there is no art in the naked human form? i havent heard such a ridiculous statement since… well, maybe never
I disagree Renee. I can see what Bill Henson is trying to express.
On the other hand, if you would like to talk about exploitation, I will refer you to Anne Geddes work. At the least Bill Henson’s models can speak.
“There is no art in a naked body…” Ruh-oh! Someone better tell the folk at Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, whose exhibition “The Naked and the Nude” is on until 7 December, and “takes the viewer on a fresh and challenging journey of the nude in art, both male and female, through the 19th, 20th and into the 21st Centuries.”
$10 entry for adults; concession $6 and children under 16, shockingly, ARE FREE!
If you actually look at the photos, Henson is clearly trying to express emotions and feelings through his compostion, lighting, etc. He is not focusing on the bodies themselves, they just add to the innocence and how natural it all is. People need to grow up and respect something beautiful like real people with real bodies.
It looks on the face of it as though Henson may well have taken advantage of low-income families, along the lines of “Dolly”. It is also concerning that David Marr refers to Henson as being friends with “N’s older sister” rather than having any actual relationship with the children’s parents. It would be interesting to know for sure that Henson secured permissions from the parents and was not operating behind their backs at any time …
Oh Renee.. what a sad sad comment. Please have a look around in the world and try to understand not everyone comprehends matters the way you do. There is hope for you yet.. you did bother to share your opinion.. as ever misguided, never the less with interest.