It’s an affair at the local salad bar

Bill Henson is an Australian photographer/artist who likes juxtaposition; of male and female, of youth and adulthood and of nature and civilization. He has also shown a preference for the use of chiaroscuro, an Italian term for clear-dark, making use of light differences to portray his artwork.

His 2007 – 2008 exhibition held at the Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery was cancelled after a complaint was lodged by a child protection campaigner against the theme of child nudity evident in some of his works. So, the golden question – Art or Pornography?

A really thin line of distinction, if you ask me. Pornography is based on a sexual, explicit depiction of the subject matter, especially with the sole intention of sexually exciting the viewer. How would we ever hope to know what Bill Henson’s intentions are when capturing the subject matter? Was the nude art spawned from the point of a perverted, paedophilic voyeur or was it really Bill Henson, daring to be different, a self-declared artist with no interest in a political or sociological agenda in which would totally explain his actions. He does not care what type of social implication would spur as a result from his form of art. His job is to creatively express his subject matter in ways that he finds most reflective of his ideals and that would include nudity if required.

Personally, I abhor child pornography, if it is meant to be sexually provocative, if the intent is to portray children as sexual objects to titillate desires. I looked at a series of Bill Henson’s works over the years to determine my stance. I found the photographs of the naked youths strangely enchanting, eerily beautiful and haunting. What I noticed was not their bodies, but the expressions on their faces, the precision the shadows cast and the postures. The fact they are without clothes only made them even more vulnerable, a no-holds expression that beckons viewers “Come, look at me, understand my confusion, acknowledge my pain. See me!“

One of the comments I read online was that parents of these child models have no right to decide for their children. Children, perceived as immature, cannot foresee the full consequences of their actions even if they are willing. Years down the road, they might rethink “Oh god, I’ve made a mistake”. But this is not a thought process that only children-turned-adults are capable of. How many times have you, as an adult, question yourself whether you have made a mistake? Have I made a mistake jumping ship to a new company? Have I made a mistake marrying this guy? If in the case of Zahava Elenberg who had no regrets even 23 years after being one of Henson’s child models, does it mean that she had perhaps done something right? She certainly did not turn out wrong to be awarded as “Telstra Young (30 years or under) Business Woman of the Year”.

It amazed me how 25 years ago, Henson’s series of a group of young nude junkies lying about in European museums had been at worst called “obvious” and up till 15 years ago, his series of teenage nudes sprawled across car bonnets which had barely raised an eyebrow had now escalated to a hot discussion topic between art lovers and children defenders and being regaled as “revolting” by Rudd, Australia’s Prime Minister, a self-confessed strip club visitor. Tell me Rudd’s visit to a strip club is purely political and artistically-inclined in nature.

If a girl wears a push-up bra, does it mean she is out to seduce? If you shower your five years old daughter because you think she is incapable of getting herself properly clean up, can child protection campaigners claim that you are molesting your child? The sexual intent is not present, therefore you are not a child molester, you are a doting parent. Similarly, if Henson takes pictures of nude children without sexual intention but for the artistic value he sees in them, he can be argued as a devoted albeit unconventional artist. That being said, I have seen more blatant sexual poses made by children in advertisements fully clothed than Henson’s unclothed. How about children in bikinis prancing the beaches? They are too young to decide if they will ever regret wearing a bikini. Ought the manufacturers of children’s swimwear be prosecuted for endorsing such products?

I think what disturbs me most is in an age and time so modern that nothing should surprise us any further, people are looking out for signs of anything remotely sexual to deliberately berate it. No clothes bad, got clothes good.

Let’s see some of my favourite Bill Henson’s pieces.

note: The Bill Henson’s photographs in this post are taken from various sources from Google.