.
Today (28th October 09) with utter dismay and shock I have been emailed and asked to remove my latest project and investigation into pornography by Kingston University Fine Art Dept.
I want to stress I have talked with my tutors about this work. I have had two lengthy discussions with my tutors showing these very images along with video and film along with further investigations. I have also shown this work to other students in a seminar. I also emailed my main tutor at the start of the year to inform him on this work and that it could cause concerns.
The inspiration behind this work is that people, young and old are addicted to the iconography and imagery of pornography. Opinion has it as a dirty thing/subject, something you should not watch. My main thinking behind this work was to turn these images into something precious, collectable even romantic. At first I wanted to add gold leaf to photography which did not work as well as I had hoped. So I decided to paint these images using oil paint and raw canvas. The backgrounds would be removed and gold leaf added to enhance the idea of religious icons, saints if you will. Which would take these images from pornography into something “visually unique.”
This is not a work based on smut and porn. It has to, and I will repeat that “IT HAS TOO” start out as that, and this is what these images represent at the moment on my study space at University. So I do agree that they can and would offend. But the idea of censoring or removal of this work is amazing in today’s contemporary and educational art practices.
Your thoughts are welcomed.
-
Email Sent to Head of Year (3rd Year, Level 6) at Kingston Fine Art University.
-
I want to keep the images on my student space/wall.
This is my work and my research. I have a right to have my space and my work on that space.
I also have the freedom of choice, speech and most importantly of expression as an artist.
Censorship, or removal of these images removes my freedom of choice, expression and speech.
If I have offended anyone I want to sit with them and ask why.
If someone (students) have complained would you pass on their email so I can arrange to talk with them on this matter, again to ask why.
You can not remove images because “they may offend” wait until they have and then lets all sit round a table and debate the matter.
This study is important and an important area for me personally. I do not want to edit my work to please students. If they are offend then good. Art sometimes does that, and it is good for people to be challenged on the visuals of art practice.
Sexuality in the arts is a taboo subject. But I am an adult along with other adults. If those other adults have a backward mindset or psychology based on sexuailty in the arts then this is not my problem to deal with. Art again sometimes does that.
Lets look at this logically: EVERYONE IN THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN to the Tate Modern show “Pop Life”, even the tutors/staff. I have sat in Seminars where they talk about it and how “inspiring” it was. Sex, Sex and more Sex. There in that show is ideas of child pornography and the use of images of children in sexual positions. In all accounts they loved it, had the time of their lives. I would hate for them to now become hypocritical about this subject matter.
If the work is removed by the school then I want answers into directly why.
I am absolutely shocked and embarrassed at this ######. All day I have been asking myself “Really?”
Please make a time and date for me to come in and talk to whoever about this. If that is you, ### and ### together then I am willing to debate and talk about this. But I am not removing the images. The school has to make that choice.
(Tutors names have been removed from email.)
No comments:
Post a Comment