In March 2010, as part of the Mardi Gras festival in Sydney, Australia, more than 5000 people stripped down for the official shot by the American photographer Spencer Tunick.
Tunick said the aim was to create a human base for the Sydney Opera House, but an article in the Sydney Morning Herald today discusses whether Tunick was successful or not, with suggestions it looks more like a pizza base, or a carpet of crushed prawns or shrimps.
People lining up for the Spencer Tunick shot at Sydney Opera House
Successful or not what’s somewhat more surprising to me is the number of people who find the Sydney Opera House shot more gimmick than art. As of the time and date of this post 44% out 7,207 people voted the shot more gimmick than art according to an online interactive poll published in the Sydney Morning Herald today.
I must admit I’m among the 44%. What about you?
What do you think of Spencer Tunick’s photography?
If you missed the Opera House shot here is a brief video from the morning of the shoot:
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7. August 2010 at 9:34 pm
I can’t help thinking he’s a master of publicity, rather than photography, but what do I know?
9. August 2010 at 9:55 am
Thanks for your comment Mike.
True, he is indeed very good at publicity and don’t get me wrong, some of his images are interesting.
However you can’t help but think sometimes (as in the case with the Opera shot) that the images lack substance or epth and it just seems to become about gathering as many people as possible in front of a landmark.