The Forbidden City has spoken out against the sexy photo shoot taken at the palace last month.
A spokesperson for the Forbidden City said that the museum was not informed about the photo shoot ahead of time, and that staff stopped the shoot when alerted by guests.
The Forbidden City spokesperson also said that sitting on stone dragons and taking photos while nude is a serious breach of public order and morality and is disrespectful towards China's cultural heritage. The act was “destructive to the dignity of China's cultural heritage,” and should be “condemned by all of society.”
The Forbidden City said that the museum did not immediately respond to the photos when they were posted because they did not want to add to their popularity. However, the museum did report the pictures to the authorities.
When the photos went viral online, the museum released the following information:
Surveillance video retrieved and verified by museum staff shows that at 8:30 on May 17, four guests ran ahead of other tourists from the Meridian Gate, the entrance of the Forbidden City. At 8:50, Forbidden City staff found the guests participating in an improper photo shoot near the Hall of Supreme Harmony and put an end to it.
It is clear that first of all, the camera man and subjects entered the Forbidden City when it first opened and ran ahead of other guests. Second, the Forbidden City had no prior knowledge of the photo shoot. Third, the shoot was planned and prepared in advance on May 13, according to the photographer's blog “WANIMAL.”
Source: inews.qq.com
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Keywords: WANIMAL Forbidden City nude photos
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So this person is a Spencer Tunick wannabe? Hardly creative when its been done before and by much better photographers - see Tunick's work outside the Louvre. Buying a ticket and racing ahead of the crowd to snap a few nudes seems to point to the level of this 'art'. It is offensive both to photographers and to the people who paid to visit the museum. The usual mouth pieces for the so-called progression of democracy on this site confuse this issue with nudity and morality. Nonsense! Your point is just fodder upon which to grind your axe.
Jun 03, 2015 13:15 Report Abuse
Oh please, this is not sexual, it is art. Nobody is gonna get down with the model there in the middle of the courtyard, so this is nothing sexual. If anything this could boost tourism if you had the opportunity to see models creating artwork on such relics. Think of the revenues it could bring. The government is complaining about ways to solidify the retirement funding that will run out as 2 parents per 1 child grow old and stop earning for taxes. Well there you go, put some art photo sessions and charge a bit more, put the extra cash into the system and problem solved.
Jun 03, 2015 11:15 Report Abuse
I disagree. The guy's blog has the dudebro name of WANIMAL. He does nudes of WOMEN, but there is no mention of also doing nudes of MEN. This is objectification, reducing the woman to sex because sex sells. It not progressivism. If he wants to call it art--what is his message? Is there a larger theme involved here, or just a naked woman? Art elevates, engages the mind. I could be wrong, but I doubt I would find anything too engaging on a blog called WANIMAL.
Jun 03, 2015 12:09 Report Abuse
One thing about Americans that I dislike, in this modern world it is hard to give a compliment to a good looking woman walking on the street without risking being judged as "harassing" or "objectifying" women. If you are a woman and you think you have the look, show it off. A flower only blooms if it deems itself ready, then it is up to the world to choose whether to see it or not. Key word, "he". I am a man, I will never touch doing photos of nude men because it might send a wrong message about me. That is his hobby. I am an artist myself and while you might think more about what he did, I sincerely doubt he was expecting people to call him up to pimp his models for a "ride" in Tianamen. Let's try to keep an objective view if possible. In this country, the population is more than any other, yet they treat nudism with such disgust sometimes, on the surface. Meanwhile, underneath they are humans, same as you and I, and we all appreciate such beauty. I cannot say that I know any straight men or women who would demand seeing men in the nude as an art form. Could be wrong though.
Jun 03, 2015 13:18 Report Abuse
Lots of points here: --What would you define as a compliment to a woman? It is a situational and specific thing. Context matters. And bringing my nationality into a discussion about objectification and cheap sexualisation tactics vs. art just seems like deflection to me... --If you think that having nude photos of men would 'send the wrong message', than you are agreeing with me that this guy is just sexualizing and objectifying women...not creating real art. --I never said he was pimping his models. I said that he was objectifying the female form, reducing women to a sex symbol or object. I don't object to nudism if it is incorporated into a larger theme or message...here, it does not. It's pedestrian, and planning an unwelcome shoot in a cherished national site with no permission...is just gauche. The type of crap that makes people dislike Chinese tourists. Conservatism towards the female form is one problem--that doesn't negate the fact that exploiting the female form is a completely different problem.
Jun 03, 2015 17:47 Report Abuse
I think you are being a bit defensive to say I am being deflective. You seem bent on proving that this man's act very unbecoming of a society but that is your point of view, not mine. Since when is Nudism, which has been around forever, sexualizing and objectifying women? Nudism cannot be responsible for the perverted men out there who see something and get off on it, but then again that is a scientific issue as well as a social issue, would you agree? Simply put, we are only responsible for what we say and do, not what others understand. If he meant to do a good thing, a bit risky I admit given the circumstances, I will trust him and why not? I clearly did not say having men photos would send the wrong message about this topic, rather about myself, meaning I am not interested in it. Does this mean that if I see a woman naked that I am gonna get all excited? No and if anyone should insinuate as much then they are being judgemental of me based on their personal perceptions, which would be unfair to me. I have clearly said to see this from an objective side. You are the one pushing your home values here and it is really not much different than the local authorities, meaning that you think you are correct and the rest of us should accept it and make it standard. This is one of the reasons many others dislike Americans, their way or no way. I am a free mind and I have my idea. Again, if you want to make art of men in their birthday suits, by all means make it happen. But I can choose not to look.
Jun 04, 2015 10:29 Report Abuse
@final say It depends on the level of art appreciation the audience of any piece of art has attained. We all know what the vast majority of mainland 'chinese' are obsessed in, money and face (ego massage). To the majority, if you give them a Mona Lisa ALL they can think of is 'what is its market price and how much can I make out of it?' Can you say the same about the average French in Paris? Rachel got it right because she takes into consideration the cultural attainment of mainlanders. In the eyes of an artist a nude photo/sculpture can be a work of art, the same piece to mainlanders en masse is probably for venting lust or at best something convertible to Mercedes. The difference is heaven and hell. From a creative point of view of course you need freedom of expression, even a high school kid knows that. The effect of your creation upon others, whether your attitude is "I only bother about creating, the effect on you is your problem, which I don't give a sh?t about" or not, goes beyond the role of an artist. It really is simple, in one word, consideration. Being an artist doesn't give you the right to use the excuse of being inconsiderate of the effect of your whatever creation has on others (i.e. in short, being an a#$hole), wouldn't you agree? The excuse "they can choose not to look" when you do whatever "artistic behaviors" (i.e. to you) in public, albeit true, is also ruthless and inconsiderate, don't you think?
Jun 04, 2015 11:43 Report Abuse
Two key points, my point of view is mine to believe in and also I don't feel it is right for another to push their value onto me. I am only pushing my point of view to validate that I have my own thinking, not because I want others to be forced to believe in me, nor do I want them to force me to accept their views. Art is different for each person. It is up for that person to choose to look and to choose whether to appreciate it or not. But if someone chooses not to, that person shouldn't have the right to make judgemental phrases meant to push down the artist just because they personally disagree.
Jun 04, 2015 16:07 Report Abuse
The problem with your point of view is that anyone shitting on the street can say s/he is an artist, "I'm creating MY 'art form', you have no right to judge or stop me because I'm an artist. Don't like the smell? Buzz off!" I am NOT saying you shit on the street in broad daylight but this is exactly the kind of argument many mainlanders use to justify their hideous acts.
Jun 05, 2015 19:53 Report Abuse
Yup. I still remember Julien Malland's insightful, tasteful graffiti in Shanghai. THAT, is art imho. www.echinacities.com/news/French-Artist-Julien-Malland-Paints-Beautiful-Graffiti-on-Demolished-Shikumen
Jun 06, 2015 10:32 Report Abuse
There is a big difference between putting filthy human waste on the streets and art. Can you please tell me who was injured from this? Did anyone get sick, mentally or physically? Did a street cleaner have to sweep up residue from a photograph like they would a poo on the ground? That reply might impress those thumbs down pushers who are against nudism or want to support the "objectifying women" comments gangs, fine push me down then. I start to feel you have an axe to grind and are bent on forcing me to accept your terms. I shall not because I do not interpret his actions in the manner which you do, nor shall I allow myself to be persuaded to think in your way. If he has his reason and the facts support him, I see nothing wrong except that it seems to riled up the likes of you. Furthermore, you say "mainlanders" like you are their morality guide or something but then you push your idea to me like I MUST be wrong and MUST agree to your ideas and this is a very controlling attitude. This is their country and they are free to govern it as they think fits. We have the right to choose whether to accept the terms or not but if not, perhaps we can go to a more conservative country where nudism is not acceptable, say Saudi Arabia for example. But I still side with the man and see no harm in this when compared to many of the other more unhealthy things I have seen. Oh and @nzteacher80, with regards to your "he just wants to take tits photos" I wonder the psychological reason for women from such a "traditional country" as here would those models agree to let an amateur artist go to such a famous and public place as Tianamen and show said nipples, knowing fully well that people would know about it? Either the guy is filthy stinkin rich and they are getting a huge payday or maybe it was really just artistic expression. Maybe the women are suffering from mental issues then? Not normal? Just a curiousity of mine using the ideas of some of you.
Jun 06, 2015 11:40 Report Abuse
@final say Obviously you didn't get my point. Where did I say I was against nudism? Didn't you read what I said in my first post, first sentence? Re-read my posts again.
Jun 06, 2015 18:21 Report Abuse
For what purpose? You have not convinced me of anything that you have said is useful the first time so why would I consider to read again? You have your point of view. It doesn't agree with mine, so be it. Why the need to carry on?
Jun 07, 2015 09:36 Report Abuse
You are arguing blindly when you didn't even get my point, even a high school student gets that. You are also blinded to where you are as you busy yourself with defending nudism. Don't you know you are in PRC? This is nothing but the big ego sydrome of an immature "artist" with you, also evidenced by your refusal to re-read my posts. Just the fact you can't even read properly negates any discussion.
Jun 08, 2015 09:44 Report Abuse
So you are saying I must re-read your posts? That sounds very controlling. At least I revealed my account when I talk, unlike you who are too scared to reveal your true name in the forums while attacking me and my values. It is you who has not read my words carefully and honestly you have not given me anything worth re-reading that could ever influence my point of view. I know what you are about, you want to belittle me and push down my point of view for taking an unpopular stance on an issue. I do not try to take a popular stance here but rather I stand on the side of what values I hold true to my heart. If that makes me "immature" so be it. As this is an Expatriate Website with some snippets of news from China, you can believe that different people will have different ideas. I despise the fact that you have resorted to name calling and character slander to get me to bow to your side. I will not.
Jun 10, 2015 10:35 Report Abuse
So its forbidden to do what now in the Forbidden City?
Jun 03, 2015 09:36 Report Abuse
So art nudes are offensive but 14 as the age of consent is okay?
Jun 03, 2015 00:36 Report Abuse
*yawn* Yeah, this is big news! Nude women on things! Very important stuff to insecure little men that are afraid of liberal women.
Jun 02, 2015 21:33 Report Abuse
Funny how the societies which claim "sex and nudity are immoral and insulting" are the societies where sexual assault, rape and child abuse are still commonplace. ----- Dear China, When people contemplate the moral repugnance of your culture, it's honestly not the nude photography they are lamenting. You might be looking for scapegoats, methinks.
Jun 02, 2015 20:55 Report Abuse
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