Comments on: Mr Rudd: ‘This is no way to build a creative Australia’

By: Thomas

Thomas — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

The one great irrelevance in their letter is the international esteem in which Mr Henson is held. Anyone in any position is capable of misjudgment, and asserting his artworld standing does not prove anything.

By: Connor Moran

Connor Moran — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Well Summiteers, by my count that is ~65 other Creative stream attendees that didn’t sign. On second thoughts maybe we should hope our PM isn’t influenced by Rhys Muldoon or Claudia Karvan, but what about Professor David Throsby or John Polson? Couldn’t get them to sign? Also “…Mr Hensons…work… diminished and corrupted…” I can hear the cash registers now. One suspects that was the motive all along. Has someone got one of those free publicity calculator thingos people like Max Markson always quote?

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

The letter from the arts people misses the point of the community concern.

Whether the photos are art or porn or both is immaterial.
The letter argues that the works show ” the delicacy of the transition from childhood to adulthood, its troubledness and its beauty, in ways which do not violate the essential innocence of his subjects.” This is a naive interpretation when it is clear that the child is posed — not a natural position but at the direction of the photographer.
The photographer is after a certain image to make his point — in other words the works are manipulative. — as is all art whether it be visual art, poetry, songs or novels like Lady Chatterley’s Lover. There’s nothing wrong with an artist manipulating the object he is portraying but the result is his notion of innocence not the portrayal of an individual’s innocence.

The letter reveals that the arts people appear to have no understanding of the community concern for the object of this work. The community is quite right in considering that the child matters more than the photos or indeed the reputation of the artist.

By: Simon Boccanegra

Simon Boccanegra — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Giovanni makes an entertaining point. Also curious that this group thinks their state-derived identity gives them somehow a special status and speaking position. Ah, the seduction of hubris. Amusing too that two government officials, Franky and Sandy are careful not to name their jobs - as though those jobs had nothing to do with them being at the summit - you put your hand up or you don’t, kids, you can’t have it both ways.

By: Cathy Morris

Cathy Morris — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I can only comment after spending hours in the Prado and Paris’ Bibliotheque that on this one we’re looking very passe on our inability to determine what is art and porn!! I cant believe Australia is struggling with Bill Henson’s work after the crass and blatant rubbish we’re exposed to daily on free-to-air TV. Look at the feral BB - just one example of that surviving over a Bill Henson? How did Australia become so back-water? You’d buy his works on the black market. Well done Rudd - putting crap communitication media ahead of fine art. That’s Australia 2008 - Queensland 1908 - and perhaps that’s the explanation.

By: Giovanni Verdi

Giovanni Verdi — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

fantastic - so instead of signing themselves as artists and citizens, they sign themselves as representatives to the advisory body of a government that has just shown its contempt for the idea of artistic independence. Way to go gang - allow the state to define your identity. What geniuses.