Give me some SKIN - H&E naturist€¦ · Spencer Tunick’s was featured at Hull’s main Ferens...

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Visit us online for subscriptions, shop and more – www.henaturist.net www.henaturist.net AUGUST 2017 H&E 67 I n 2014, we had an enjoyable short break in Hull, and agreed we should go back some time. When Hull was designated the UK City of Culture 2017, that intention became firmer, and the prospect of seeing the results of a Spencer Tunick project made it definite. e icing on the cake was the chance to see editor Sam’s exhibition of H&E’s history. ere was much to see (and hear), and we felt Hull fully justified being awarded CoC status. Some things were more successful than others. A recital of contemplative piano works in a church where most of the building was undergoing substantial and noisy restoration work was not the best match between event and location! In contrast, Sam was well-served by multi-purpose venue Kardomah94. Created in 2014 from a somewhat soulless space in a deserted office block, this enterprise combines a cheerful eatery (offering great food, including real pizzas made to order) with an excellent performance and exhibition space; familiar to Sam when wearing one of her other hats as a successful folk artist. On show were dozens of magazine covers, articles, adverts and individual photos from Sam’s archive, beautifully enlarged and framed. Some were captioned with just the issue date, others with significant background details. is was an impressive and informative presentation, an insight into, not just naturism, but more than a century in the life of a magazine. It was also fun and nostalgic to see the evolution of attitudes, advertising and ways of representing social nudity. Talking to some of those preparing for the evening’s performance, they also found the exhibition interesting and enjoyable. We hope it gets more outings soon. Give me some SKIN Spencer Tunick’s Sea of Hull was featured at Hull’s main Ferens Art Gallery, as part of its substantial SKIN exhibition. Tunick’s huge prints were alongside sculptures by Ron Mueck and paintings by Lucian Freud, Stanley Spencer and Edouard Manet. ese were complemented with selected works from Ferens’ own collection, by less well-known artists including John Coplans, Craigie Anderson, Euan Uglow, John Davies and Torsten Lauschmann. e Tunick prints were impressive, and it was good to see some ‘in the flesh’ for the first time – all my previous experience of his work was from TV programmes and magazine articles. While I had liked the early Naked States material, his more recent projects often left me cold and seemed too contrived: using bodies to create a sort of pointillist image, or ranks of crouched humans to resemble penned sheep or pigs. For Sea of Hull, the people always PHOTOS: © Ferens Art Gallery; Anne-Marie Tasker; Tim Forcer

Transcript of Give me some SKIN - H&E naturist€¦ · Spencer Tunick’s was featured at Hull’s main Ferens...

  • Visit us online for subscriptions, shop and more – www.henaturist.netwww.henaturist.net AUGUST 2017 H&E 67

    In 2014, we had an enjoyable short break in Hull, and agreed we should go back some time. When Hull was designated the UK City of Culture 2017, that intention became � rmer, and the prospect of seeing the results of a Spencer Tunick

    project made it de� nite. � e icing on the cake was the chance to see editor Sam’s exhibition of H&E’s history.

    � ere was much to see (and hear), and we felt Hull fully justi� ed being awarded CoC status. Some things were more successful than others. A recital of contemplative piano works in a church where most of the building was undergoing substantial and noisy restoration work was not the best match between event and location!

    In contrast, Sam was well-served by multi-purpose venue Kardomah94. Created in 2014 from a somewhat soulless space in a deserted o� ce block, this enterprise combines a cheerful eatery (o� ering great food, including real pizzas made to order) with an excellent performance and exhibition space; familiar to Sam when wearing one of her other hats as a successful folk artist.

    On show were dozens of magazine covers, articles, adverts and individual photos from Sam’s archive, beautifully enlarged and framed. Some were captioned with just the issue date, others with signi� cant background details. � is was an

    impressive and informative presentation, an insight into, not just naturism, but more than a century in the life of a magazine. It was also fun and nostalgic to see the evolution of attitudes, advertising and ways of representing social nudity. Talking to some of those preparing for the evening’s performance, they also found the exhibition interesting and enjoyable. We hope it gets more outings soon.

    Give me some SKINSpencer Tunick’s Sea of Hull was featured at Hull’s

    main Ferens Art Gallery, as part of its substantial SKIN exhibition. Tunick’s huge prints

    were alongside sculptures by Ron Mueck and

    paintings by Lucian Freud, Stanley Spencer and Edouard Manet.

    � ese were complemented with selected works from Ferens’

    own collection, by less well-known artists including John Coplans, Craigie

    Anderson, Euan Uglow, John Davies and Torsten Lauschmann.

    � e Tunick prints were impressive, and it was good to see some ‘in the � esh’ for the � rst time – all my previous experience of his work was from TV programmes and magazine articles. While I had liked the early Naked States material, his more recent projects often left me cold and seemed too contrived: using bodies to create a sort of pointillist image, or ranks of crouched humans to resemble penned sheep or pigs. For Sea of Hull, the people always

    � ere was much to see (and hear), and we felt Hull fully justi� ed being awarded CoC status. Some things were more successful than others. A recital of contemplative piano works in a church where most of the building was undergoing substantial and noisy restoration work was not the best match between event and location!

    venue Kardomah94. Created in 2014 from a somewhat soulless space in a deserted o� ce block, this enterprise combines a cheerful eatery (o� ering great food, including real pizzas made to order) with an excellent performance and exhibition space; familiar to Sam when wearing one of her other hats as a successful folk artist.

    Give me some SKINSpencer Tunick’s Sea of Hull was featured at Hull’s

    main Ferens Art Gallery, as part of its substantial SKIN exhibition. SKIN exhibition. SKINTunick’s huge prints

    were alongside sculptures by Ron Mueck and

    paintings by Lucian Freud, Stanley Spencer and Edouard Manet.

    � ese were complemented with selected works from Ferens’

    own collection, by less well-known artists including John Coplans, Craigie

    Anderson, Euan Uglow, John Davies and Torsten Lauschmann.

    � e Tunick prints were impressive, and it was good to see some ‘in the � esh’ for the � rst time – all my previous experience of his work was from TV programmes and magazine articles. While I had liked the early

    PHO

    TOS: ©

    Ferens Art Gallery; Anne-M

    arie Tasker; Tim Forcer