Politics

Bondi Beach Nude Sculpture Clothed

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The thirteenth annual Sculpture by the Sea, opened in Sydney on 29 October.

The thirteenth annual Sculpture by the Sea, opened in Sydney on 29 October. Prior to opening the organisers insisted Paul Trefry’s sculpture Little Boy Lost be displayed wearing swimwear instead of being exhibited nude as the sculptor intended.

This censoring caused an outcry from various quarters, especially in light of the Bill Henson incident in May 2008. The opening night of Bill Henson's 2007-2008 Sydney exhibition was canceled after complaints were made to Police voicing concerns about the gallery’s invitation depicting photographs of a nude 13-year old girl.

The Australian Raelian Movement supported Bill Henson and immediately sent out a press release stating that it was left dumbfounded by the apparent stupidity of Sculpture by the Sea’s decision to put pants on Paul Treffy's Little Boy Lost.

Well-known artist and representative of the Australian Raelian Movement, Luke (LuXifer) Roberts was quoted as saying, "Shame on the Sydney officials who took this decision. A new low of stupidity has been reached,"

The Australian Raelian Movement was greatly concerned about the shrill indignation, hysteria and fear mongering around the depiction of nude children in the arts. Those who see evil in a naked child are often the very ones that society needs to be protected from.

"Belgium has Manneken Pis, which is located near the Brussels Town Hall and Grand Place. It lives up to its name and urinates water daily. It is a much loved, much visited sculpture and a famous Brussels landmark with an international reputation. It brings joy and delight to those who see it and has been in place for hundreds of years. Even the Catholic Church has armies of naked cupids throughout many of its churches," LuXifer observed. "Now we appear to have a new Puritanism on our hands."

"If these Sydney Officials were in Belgium they would put underwear on the Manneken Pis! Its ridiculous," Jarel, spokesperson for the Australian Raelian Movement(ARM) added.

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