Spencer Tunick | Tragic Comedy

Scott Hardie | October 27, 2003
Spencer Tunick is like the Steve Fossett of the art world, except that he won't eventually go away. I don't know about you, but I'm really sick of hearing about him. He's the photographer who orchestrates elaborate shoots with hundreds of nude models (usually both genders) lying on the ground. In the past, he had to use a "flash mob" approach, since he couldn't get permits. But recent photos, such as this one at Grand Central Terminal, show cooperation from the city, or so it would seem.

I've been hearing about a new photo shoot by Tunick every few months for seven years now, and they're always the same damn thing, just hundreds of naked people lying on the ground. Is he not interested in anything else? I would say he should grow as an artist, except that would probably result in photos of thousands of naked people instead. Maybe he just keeps taking the same pictures again and again because he isn't making any point with them, and he can't move on until he does. I don't know; I'm sick of hearing about him just because nakedness makes the news. I see no point to his work other than getting attention. What am I missing?

Scott Hardie | October 27, 2003
If you haven't heard of him and want to see examples, visit his gallery. You'll notice the redunancy about which I complain. (And yes, I know he takes photos of individual nudes as well. Those are better aesthetically, but don't they suffer from a similar redundancy?)