The Government will issue a ruling on nude art, as it tries to grapple with a rash of online supposed photography scandals.
Thai Phien's the 'Buc Hoa' photo
While nude photography has become increasingly popular, a rash of online ‘show-off’ photos of young women posing provocatively have confused public perceptions over the divided between art and pornography. Photographers seem to be bearing the brunt of official and public attitudes by having their work stifled from public show.
The most famous case involved photographer Thai Phien’s Xuan Thi (Spring Time) collection. When it was first released to public, the Ministry of Information and Communications prudishly rejected a license for an exhibition of the work.
"This is the second time I’ve brought my collection to Hanoi without being able to show it. But I still hope I’ll eventually have an exhibition." the photographer said. Despite the photographer’s optimism, his nude collection was removed from the nominated list for the National Book Awards in 2009.
Addressing this issue on February 29, the Hanoi Department of Art, Photography and Exhibition under Ministry of Cultrue, Sport and Tourism (MCST) held a seminar to discuss the regulations related to photography to gather opinions on nude art management.
At the seminar, painter Luong Xuan Doan asked, "Why do the authorities refuse to license nude art exhibition despite the multiple reprints of Thai Phien’s Xuan Thi collection?"
Dang Dinh Anh, President of Hanoi Art Photo Association thinks the authorities needed to punish those who were producing and distributing online pornographic images, not nude photography in general.
Many photographers also proposed the MCST to open an age-restricted website to introduce nude art to the public with the intention of making clear the difference between art and pornography.
Luong Xuan Doan, Deputy Director of Culture and Arts, Central Department of Propaganda said nude photos were automatically deemed offensive and banned from public showing. Once the photos were up on the internet it was impossible for the authorities to do anything he said. Instead he proposed that nude art and photography should be released widely to the public, so they could begin to appreciate the difference between art and pornography.
The regulation is expected to be issued this autumn.
The Xuan Thi collection of photographer Thai Phien
Thai Phien's 'Song Do' photo
