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Monday, April 30, 2012

EXHIBITIONIST ONLY: VISITORS STRIP NAKED AT SYDNEY EXPO


MCA's adults-only "performance" puts naked art lovers on display as artist guides tour group

Turn up, strip off and enjoy the show at this weekend’s MCA event -- you’re the main attraction

With a forecast high of 22 C this weekend, most Sydney visitors will be looking forward to some pretty-much-perfect weather, but there’s a select bunch who may find that a touch chilly.
That’s because they’ll be touring the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) completely naked in an event led by Melbourne Artist Stuart Ringholt.
He’ll be checking his clothes in at the door too, by the way.
Ringholt’s tour is actually billed on the MCA website as a performance, so that should give some clue as to his motivation here. He says he aims to address “themes of fear and embarrassment.”
The event itself comes with the equally attention-seeking -- not to mention long -- title, “Preceded by a tour of the show by artist Stuart Ringholt 6-8pm (the artist will be naked. Those who wish to join the tour must also be naked. Adults only).” 
While cynics might consider the people joining the tour to be the actual performance, museum curators say it’s really about the art hanging on their walls.
“[Visitors can] gain a new perspective on the current MCA exhibitions by viewing them entirely nude,” says the event description.
“Remove the material barriers between artist and audience (literally) when you join artist Stuart Ringholt’s tour followed by a nude reception,” it states.
At least that removes any concerns about what to wear to one of Sydney’s most unusual social events this month.
The Museum of Contemporary Art reopened in March after a $53 million refit and is home to more than 4,000 works by artists from around the world.

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