Art


Art for beauty’s sake

We must rescue art from the modern intoxication with ugliness, demands Roger Scruton.

The Tracey Emin show: self abuse and sewing

Sometimes I’m inclined to regard Tracey Emin as Jade Goody’s long-lost sister. For both, achievement has been inseparable from publicity; their careers derive from the merchandising of personal traumas, which take us on involuntary tours of their tormented innards.

Wankley Awards: The Daily Tele swallows a fake Picasso

The Daily Tele reported last week that a young Sydney woman took her online Picasso to an “antiques roadshow” in Dee Why and it was verified as authentic. If only they’d got a second opinion…

Should Banksy be nominated for the Turner prize?

Art writer Jonathan Jones almost nominated street artist Banksy for the Turner prize — but thought better of it.

Forget Henson, politicians are partial to playground trawling too

How does Ms Pike justify her practice, and that of her colleagues in parliaments right across Australia, eagerly rushing off to schools, particularly at election time, so they can be photographed with unsuspecting kids who can’t vote? asks Greg Barns.

Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups

Hetty Johnston on Henson … oil, the future, and you … the public service … global warming … Iraq … sponsored sydney buses … ABARE …

A Queensland perspective on Henson

I still feel the shame of Queensland, the laughing stock, the State where police and politicians interfered in artistic matters with heavy hands and jack booted feet, writes Stephen Keim.

Hetty Johnston: Henson debate a healthy sign

Since time began, adults have exercised their rights, their greed and personal desires with little or no consideration to the rights of children. That’s changing, and about time, writes Hetty Johnston, founder of Bravehearts.

Never mind the zealots: smoking has a role in film

Should movies be part of some ideological state apparatus for promoting health, wonders Simon Chapman?

SBS shows the way ahead for commercial public broadcasting

Joy for taxpayers: SBS expects to make $47million in the next financial year, from ads, writes Glen Dyer.

Oz police ape their overzealous US counterparts on Henson

The sort of tactics used by Hetty Johnson and are, unfortunately, a fact of life in the US, writes Greg Barns.

Senator Bartlett: Moving beyond art v p-rn

explores the grey bits between the black and whites of the Bill Henson debate.

Henson schmenson, take a look at Dolly

Why is it that “artistic” images of a young girl have created such uproar, and yet s-xualised images of children across the media remain unchallenged, asks Julie Gale.

Henson: time for the police to put up or back off

Since when did we allow our police forces to become censors of art and culture, asks Greg Barns?

Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups

The Henson fracas: art or p-rn? … petrol politics and FuelWatch … petrol solutions: it’s a gas … publicly dealing with complex issues … Mal Brough …

Attack of the luvvies fails to hit its target

The Prime Minister may be finding petro-politics difficult to negotiate at the moment, but there’s one bright spot: at least the luvvies now hate him, writes .

Talkback on the nuances between art and p-rn

Talkback hasn’t been this highbrow since Piss Christ… To follow is a selection of the art critique hitting the air waves.

The Henson Debate: Crikey readers respond

Everyone from the PM down has weighed in on the debate over Bill Henson’s photography. Crikey readers had a lot to say too - in fact we’ve had more comments on the story than any other we’ve published. Here’s a selection of reader comments on the issue.

Child s-xualisation: a month of stories

The s-xualisation of children — and more specifically, girls — has been a big topic over the last month or so. From the frivolous to the serious, it seems a tipping point has been reached, writes Jane Nethercote.

Crikey Says: Crikey Says

When did we lose the capacity for serious and complex discussion of intricate and difficult issues?

Sparrow: powerful populism, art and reason collide

Harassing artists: it’s Australian as the Pavlova or the Hills Hoist, writes Jeff Sparrow.

Crikey Says: Crikey Says

The Art Gallery of NSW makes Bill Henson part of its “for schools” program.

And then Fairfax reprinted it….

How do you read about Bill Henson?

Art is your friend

Yes it is…