That’s not a joke question. What is wrong with this picture? Exactly what could anyone possibly find offensive about it?
Great light, wonderful muted colours, great contrasts between skin and sheet, the soft green fabric and the ochre glow of the lamp. Any splayed cunt? Any penetration? Abuse? Cruelty to animals? Sharp edged power tools?
Come on – what’s wrong with this picture?
Last week, I was delighted to receive a lovely edition of this in the mail (I don’t get mail up here very often – yes, it made it through the Ministry of Culture’s censor – and yes they opened it!) from the Australian artist Hazel Dooney. This week, I hear that Facebook has decided the digital version of it contravenes their obscenity rules.
Please show them just how badly their values are fucked by going to her site and taking a look at some of her other work. It’s really wonderful. My latest favourites are her Asylum Notebook Series and her Sex Tourist Sketchbook because, hey, I can relate to both the going loony and the too much time on your hands in Bangkok thing. But there is a wonderful contrast between the cold abstraction of her enamel works and the dreamlike frenzy of her watercolours. Also, check out her Blog Sketchbook series. I have a soft spot for the combination of image and text, especially hand written text. It reminds me a little of old botanical notes and the Voynich Manuscript.
I’m glad to finally see the picture, because on the two previous occasions that I have received emails from you linking to your blog, I couldn’t get to it. Clearly no censorship on the internet, then!!
As you say, there is nothing wrong at all with the picture. Two naked humans might not be to everyone’s taste, but as anyone checked the major works of art around all the galleries recently? I’d much have two naked humans than mountains of gore and torture scenes, quite frankly.
Am just off to look at Hazel’s site, assuming the internet police will let me…
I am LOVING the idea that Renault Australia asked Hazel Dooney to provide an art installation for one of their promo events, for which she painted the Sex Tourist series. Now, do you not think that Renault might have firstly checked the kind of stuff which Hazel paints and photographs, before judging whether she would be a suitable artist at this event? And, even if they had not, don’t you think they might be alerted by the title of her installation that it might not be suitable for minors?
Oh no, much better to hang covers over the pieces they considered unsuitable!! Stupid people.
People are silly. The watercolors are lovely; playful and erotic.