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| Naked Tweens ... Art or Porn? |  Thu May 29, 2008 9:50 am by Schmiggens | More galleries in Bill Henson nude children row
POLICE are investigating photos of naked children held by the National Gallery of Victoria and teh Newcastle Regional Art Gallery as the controversy over photographer Bill Henson widens.
The NGV has 94 Henson photographs in its collection, including a montage depicting a partially naked child in its third-floor exhibition. Officers yesterday went to the NGV, but did not remove any works.
In New South Wales, officers are looking into four works at the Newcastle gallery. The city council said it purchased the images in the early 1990s.
"Two of those works depict young people. We have never received any complaints about the works," a spokeswoman said.
Police last week raided a Sydney gallery and confiscated 20 Henson photographs featuring naked children aged 12 and 13. They are considering criminal charges over the exhibition, condemned by politicians and child abuse groups but defended by the art world.
Assistant Commissioner Gary Jamieson told Melbourne's Herald Sun police would evaluate Henson's works.
"If Henson had works on display in Victoria we would go through the process of evaluating those works," he said. "We would, no doubt given what has happened in NSW, take some steps to have those works evaluated."
The NGV defended the artistic merit of Henson's work. "He has consistently represented the nude figure and explores adolescence as a theme," a spokeswoman said.
The gallery said the human body, regardless of age, had provided subject matter for artists since ancient times.
NGV deputy director Frances Lindsay said the 94 Henson works held by the gallery represented the artist's full range of work, from portraits to landscapes and buildings.
"One work is hanging in the NGV at present. This work is part of the series displayed at the Venice Biennale in 1995 when Bill Henson was Australia's official representative.
"He is regarded as one of the greatest photographers of our time and all of the Henson works in the NGV Collection have been collected in the context of his contribution as a celebrated artist."
Albury Regional Art Gallery removed three images of naked adolescents after a police visit on Friday, but Monash Gallery of Art, which holds 30 of Henson's works, yesterday stood by the artist.
"He has consistently explored human conditions of youth, and examined a poignant moment between adolescence and adulthood," MGA director Jason Smith said. "I regard his work as sensitive and highly respectful of his subjects and his viewers."
Barrister Brian Walters said there was a distinction between pornography and art. "I think it would be extreme to call it pornography. Pornography is intended for the purposes of sexual gratification," Mr Walters said.
Royal Australasian College of Physicians child health expert Dr Anne Smith said child welfare was more important than art. "At 13 years old, the girl in question is a minor. Her guardians have a responsibility to keep her safe," Dr Smith said.
Henson did not return calls yesterday.
- with the Herald Sun.
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