- Post-Henson fears spur photograph's veto
- The Australian
- 28/01/2009 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 258 articles in 2009 )
A PERTH library has declined to display an inoffensive photograph of two toddlers because of fears of a post-Henson backlash.
Earlier this month, photographer Nicole Boenig McGrade submitted her picture, Kids in Suburbia, for an exhibition. Concerned that the photo might prompt complaints, the exhibition organiser suggested it be left out and Boenig McGrade agreed.
The photographer declined to name the venue yesterday, but The Australian has since confirmed it is the Subiaco Library.
"They're just being cautious and I can understand that because no one wants to be put in a position where they might cause other people to be upset," said Boenig McGrade.
But she said she was shocked to think her photo of two children playing on the footpath outside their WA home might be considered offensive.
"This is an image of Australian lifestyle -- this is who we are. Children are part of our history and that's how I see my photographs," she said.
The photo, taken in 2006, shows an 18-month-old boy and his three-year-old sister, both with their shirts off. Their parents asked Boenig McGrade, a mother of two, to take the image, and they attended the photo session.
Library manager Colleen Harris is on leave and unavailable for comment, but it is understood that she was also concerned about the Australia Council's new protocols for artists working with children, released on January 1. The protocols, introduced after last year's national furore over Bill Henson's photographs of naked children, do not apply to Boenig McGrade because she receives no government funding.
Executive director of the National Association for the Visual Arts, Tamara Winikoff, said yesterday the council protocols would hinder artistic freedom.
"Because of justified anxiety over the protection of children, what we're seeing here is a complete overreaction which is bordering on the absurd now," she said.
Australia Council chief executive Kathy Keele last night defended the guidelines.
"I certainly hope -- and it's been our intention all along -- that this does not exclude children from our arts body of work in Australia," she said. "But we will all have to work hard to interpret what's in front of us, and talk about what it means."
Earlier this month, photographer Nicole Boenig McGrade submitted her picture, Kids in Suburbia, for an exhibition. Concerned that the photo might prompt complaints, the exhibition organiser suggested it be left out and Boenig McGrade agreed.
The photographer declined to name the venue yesterday, but The Australian has since confirmed it is the Subiaco Library.
"They're just being cautious and I can understand that because no one wants to be put in a position where they might cause other people to be upset," said Boenig McGrade.
But she said she was shocked to think her photo of two children playing on the footpath outside their WA home might be considered offensive.
"This is an image of Australian lifestyle -- this is who we are. Children are part of our history and that's how I see my photographs," she said.
The photo, taken in 2006, shows an 18-month-old boy and his three-year-old sister, both with their shirts off. Their parents asked Boenig McGrade, a mother of two, to take the image, and they attended the photo session.
Library manager Colleen Harris is on leave and unavailable for comment, but it is understood that she was also concerned about the Australia Council's new protocols for artists working with children, released on January 1. The protocols, introduced after last year's national furore over Bill Henson's photographs of naked children, do not apply to Boenig McGrade because she receives no government funding.
Executive director of the National Association for the Visual Arts, Tamara Winikoff, said yesterday the council protocols would hinder artistic freedom.
"Because of justified anxiety over the protection of children, what we're seeing here is a complete overreaction which is bordering on the absurd now," she said.
Australia Council chief executive Kathy Keele last night defended the guidelines.
"I certainly hope -- and it's been our intention all along -- that this does not exclude children from our arts body of work in Australia," she said. "But we will all have to work hard to interpret what's in front of us, and talk about what it means."
Source: https://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24973227-5013404,00.html
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