I wonder why this is happening now, and why it didn't happen at the (presumably larger) exhibition of Henson's work at the Art Gallery of NSW a few years ago.
It's the Australian way, folks: place you on a pedestal, send you off to Venice as official Biennale artist, NSW goverment pays for major retrospective at the State Gallery and publishes book for the occasion, ABC screens documentary then they stick it to you when you're least expecting it.
I look forward to Edmund Capon and the curator being arrested for their part in the retrospective and the book, the Commonwealth arts minister responsible for the Biennale selection and owners of all bookshops carrying the AGNSW and Scalo books being burnt at the stake in Martin Place, with our priggish new PM lighting the match.
My only worry about Bill Henson is the archival quality of that black tape that he uses to hold his montages together.
The Megan Lewis exhibition is absolutely superb. I saw it as part of FotoFreo earlier this month. There are not many exhibitions that have me buying the book at the gallery but this was one. The subject was shot with great sensitivity and honesty. Plus it was shot on film too !!!
Hi Tony,
I read Miranda fairly often, but only if I'm in good humour. I thought I was yesterday morning but it didn't turn out that way. I'm still waiting for her to reply to my email...
In my view the work is not at all sexual (thanks to the outrage and digust of channel 9 I was able to view them on national television at 7:30am this morning). Having said that there is an element of exploitation involved in my view and I wonder whether the kids were able to consent to their images later being embroilled in controversy and labelled pronographic (the law says they can't make that decision themselves). If I was their parents this possibility would have crossed my mind even if I don't agree with the rabid right.
P.S. poll in the 'Herald today showed more than half of people thought that they were "art", ~21% thought there shoud be prosecution. A moral minority on a witch hunt.
Matt.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Egan
Per the ABC news tonight the opening has been cancelled due to claims of child pornography on exhibition with police examining the images on the Roslyn Oxley gallery web site. The gallery web site appears to be down as I write this. In the Sydney Morning Herald today it seemed arch-conservative columnist Miranda Devine may have been on the soapbox about this. (I never read her articles on principle but the mention of a photographer caught my eye) I assume some of Miranda's fans rang the authorities full of righteous indignation and the cops were brought in?
I'm a bit on the fence when it comes to Bill Henson's work. Some work I find very beautiful and compelling, others a bit disturbing and discomforting.
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Matt Gorringe
Last edited by Matthew Gorringe; 05-23-2008 at 06:23 AM.
Hi Matt,
I'm sure she gets a lot so be patient! I agree with Goldie that she is one of the new school of "journalists" (post 9/11 - be afraid, be very afraid) who proudly and unashamedly brand themselves as conservative rather than independent or objective. Not that any journalist is ever 100% objective, but you know where the likes of Miranda and Piers Akerman et al are going to come from purely for effect. Cynically reactionary and predictable. It's best just to ignore them! She's a wimpy Ann Coulter wannabe who gets off on rubbing up left-leaners and moderates the wrong way in order to establish a 'reputation'. Yawn....
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I have a theory that Miranda is only published (and only writes what she does) to generate the outraged letters from readers disagreeing with her for the next issue...
Yeah - she's rude & ignorant but it gets a reaction. Also it means the SMH can claim to be even handed - whenever they are accused of being lefties, chattering class or whatever they can point to Marauder & say that they give both sides a fair crack. Just ignore the fact there is no level of intelligent debate. There is more in-depth critique of rugby league than there is of art.
If you eastern suburbs trendies don't shape up you'll be getting Miranda 3 times a week and questioned on your comprehension of her columns afterwards. See what happened when you continued down your erroneous paths: she turned up twice a week.
Don't forget that that fine example of artistic appreciation Ron Walker is on the board, and be thankful that there is still at least a nod toward the arts by Fairfax (excepting serious music, of course).
I'd give quids to be a fly on the wall when David Marr, John McDonald and Miranda pass each other in the corridor.
The Herald doesn't need to be even handed, it's not the govt. funded ABC, however the role of all opinion piece writers at Fairfax begs some definition. Objectivity seems to be on the wane in all media in Oz.
That feels better! And my Arista negs in Pyrocat look encouraging, on to the proof!
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