World | Australia
Australia exhibition of nude teenagers closed
Police said on Friday they expect to file charges over a Sydney art exhibition that the Australian prime minister called revolting for its portrayal of nude 12- and 13-year-old children.
- AP
- Published: 23:53 May 23, 2008
Sydney: Police said on Friday they expect to file charges over a Sydney art exhibition that the Australian prime minister called revolting for its portrayal of nude 12- and 13-year-old children.
The exhibit by leading Australian photographer Bill Henson was suspended by police just ahead of its scheduled opening on Thursday night, following public outrage.
It included large photographic prints of naked children, including a frontal image of a teenage girl.
Police removed more than 20 photographs from the Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery yesterday.
"Police are investigating this matter and it is likely that we will proceed to prosecution on the offense of publishing an indecent article under the Crimes Act," said Local Area Commander Allan Sicard. He would not specify who was likely to be charged.
Sicard said some of the photos depicted a 13-year-old girl "in a sexual context". Henson and the gallery agreed on Thursday to temporarily suspend the show to allow investigators to speak to the children and their parents, police said. Henson's exhibition consisted of 41 photographs.
The website for the gallery went off-line to remove the photos. It was back online yesterday afternoon, with a statement saying the exhibition will reopen without the controversial images.
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