Laying it Bare: An Interview with Spencer Tunick
Aired January 23, 2004
Throughout the centuries, artists have captured the human form in sculpture, paintings, drawings, and photography. Nude masterpieces like Michaelangelo’s “David” , Manet’s “Olympia”, and Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus," all hang in some of the world’s most important museums. Yet, for some reason, the naked body still sparks controversy, here in our 21st century community. So when hundreds of people strip off all their clothes in the middle of a public place, (like New York’s Times Square for instance) it tends to set people off.
For over a decade, artist Spencer Tunick has journeyed all across the globe, getting volunteers to take off their clothing and pose nude in public for his photographs. Sometimes he has trouble finding volunteers to do this and sometimes he doesn’t.
This weekend (Jan 24-25, 2004), Spencer Tunick was planning to stage one of his installations right here in Cleveland, but the response from people wanting to model was so overwhelming, that he decided to move the date to June, so he could accommodate everyone in an outside, and much warmer venue.
But the show must go on, as MOCA Cleveland opens an exhibition of Spencer Tunick photographs entitled “Manmade and Natural.” ideastream's Jim Goldurs recently spoke with Spencer Tunick about his career.