Every so often I have come across an image on the web of a massive number of nude people all arranged in a pose of some sort, most often in cities but also out in the country (see below for some examples). The photos are kind of cool in that the people in them are just people, stripped of any sign of rank or pretension or design. They are just them selves. It is not something you often see in a world where people are raised to put on an image and present themselves in a certain “acceptable” way. The detail and the co-ordination in the photos too are often as captivating as the fact that everyone is nude as well.

I never knew too much about what they were about, but I saw one in last Saturday’s Sydney Morning Herald together with a story how the photographer Spencer Tunick was in Sydney and together with the organisers of the New Mardi Gras were organizing Spencer Tunicks first large scale installation in Sydney. The story had a tongue in cheek sort of tone to it saying how while 2000 people have signed up to be a part of the installation years of experience have taught them to expect shrinkage. It’s one thing, the story quotes, to get excited and sign up, but then when it comes to actually doing it on the day they get cold feet…or other cold things perhaps.

It is the usual tone you get with that sort of story, a sort of mocking, patronising tone. Public nudity isn’t widely accepted yet. But it is actually kind of liberating to be that comfortable with your self that you can say for those couple of hours while you are doing it that no, I am not going to be made to feel like my body is something to be ashamed of or disgusted by. I rather suspect more people should feel that way then perhaps there would be less in the way if eating disorders.

The Sydney installation is called “The Base” and upon investigation I found that you can sign up at the following web site. I wondered whether I could do such a thing. But never one to shy away from a provokative piece of performance art by a internationally renowned photographer, certainly not when nudity is involved, I signed up. The shoot is this Monday coming up (1st of March) very early in the morning down at the Opera House. It will be interesting to see what it is like. For participating you get an 8 x 10″ print of the work and the satisfaction of having made art no doubt.

I am a little bit torn though, since there is nudity involved, as a guy you kind of hope there are some really hot chicks to perve on. I mean lets face it clothed or unclothed we would perve anyway so that much isn’t really changed by the nudity. But haviung said that since you your self are also standing there stark naked on the Opera House steps, you don’t want the girls surrounding you to be too hot. I mean you are often entwined amongst these people quite closely. You wouldn’t want there to be any movement at the station if you catch my meaning. That might be embarrasing!

Any way we’ll see how we go come Monday, it should be fun.

Below are some example photos from Spencer Tunick for those of you who are not familiiar wit his work. If you had not heard about this Sydney installation before and are keen you should sign up.

I will let you know how it goes.