<
-
During an exhibit about nudes, bodies tend to be exposed on paintings on the walls, and not walking from room to room as they were brought into this world. But a museum in Vienna decided that during an exhibition "Nude Men", it will allow people starting on March 4 to walk the installations without clothes.
Photo: AP
-
The exposition debuted on February 19, with approximately 200 nudists attending the Leopold, to contemplate, without textile barriers, the exhibition "Nude Men," about the history of the representation of the male body in art. This particular art show is restricted to adults and only open at night.
Photo: AP
-
"We received a lot of requests from nudist organizations and decided to make a day for them. We are a liberal gallery and we thought it was cool," said Efe Klaus Pkorny, the museum's spokesperson. In any case, "this is a unique activity, we didn't think to create special events for nudists," he added.
Photo: AP
-
The nudists that attended the exposition on Monday, accepted the proposal naturally and did not have any qualms in taking their close off, with exception of their socks for those with 'cold feet. The majority assisting were men. "It was a unique experience. I had never participated in something like this," said Cristoph. " I hope that they organize more things like this. It doesn't hurt anyone." David, a 19-year-old Austrian, stressed: " For one day I felt like a piece of art among other pieces of art. In an exposition about nudes, it was a new experience to be here wearing nothing."
Photo: AP
-
The large presence of journalists and the flashes from cameras did make some nudists uncomfortable, making them hurry through the first two rooms of the exhibit, open to the media. The surprise and curiosity could be seen in the eyes of the tourists and peeping toms looking in from outside the museum.
Photo: AP
-
An American who has been living in Vienna for years assures that something like this would be unthinkable back home: "Surely they would end up in jail," he joked. "The exposition itself about nude males would be impossible," he added. In Vienna, the exposition did generate controversy and was even auto-censored last October on a promotional poster which showed a nude with three men.
Photo: AP
-
The photo created protests that the museum cover the genitals with a red band on the posters distributed throughout the city.
Photo: AP
-
The exposition, open through March 4, contains 400 paintings, photos and sculptures showing off the natural male body and famous throughout art history.
Photo: AP
-
Male nudity is as ancient as art itself, but the majority of nudes are female, according to the complaints of an American artist collective called, Guerrilla Girls. " Less than five percent of the artists in contemporary museums are men, but 85 percent are of nude women," they criticized.
Photo: Getty Images
-
The controversy was born in the same city in which Austrian painter Egon Schiele scandalized with his own nudes a century ago.
Photo: Getty Images
-
Leopold counts with the biggest collection of Schiele's work, and in 2005 offered free entrance to those who visited the exposition: "True nude: Klimt, Schiele, Kokoschka and other scandals" naked. That day became a success with hundreds of people visiting in a bathing suit or completely naked. The controversay that has surounded "Nude men," increased the museum's visitors by 17 percent, making it the most seen gallery of 2012.
Photo: Getty Images
1
11
During an exhibit about nudes, bodies tend to be exposed on paintings on the walls, and not walking from room to room as they were brought into this world. But a museum in Vienna decided that during an exhibition "Nude Men", it will allow people starting on March 4 to walk the installations without clothes.
Photo: AP
