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New York-based contemporary artist Spencer Tunick is
visiting NewcastleGateshead to offer volunteers a once in a lifetime opportunity
to become part of his latest work of art.
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Those involved will be immortalised by participating nude in a series
of installations taking place on 17 July.
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This is the artist's first large-scale UK installation and the artist
encourages people from all over the UK to participate.
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The new artwork is commissioned by BALTIC in collaboration
with Â鶹Éç THREE and funded by culture10
- the cultural programme managed by destination marketing agency Newcastle
Gateshead Initiative.
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The resulting works will be shown as part of an exhibition at BALTIC
in January 2006 and elements of the installation will be part of a broadcast
on Â鶹Éç THREE.
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Spencer Tunick is widely celebrated for his elaborately posed photographs
of multiple nude figures in public settings.
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His temporary site-specific installations have taken place across the
globe in cities including Montreal, Melbourne, Santiago and Barcelona.
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Tunick gathers hundreds of volunteers to take part in his installations,
which in the past have attracted anything from 500 to 7000 participants.
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Pippa Coles, Head of Programme, BALTIC, said: "We are delighted to be
working with internationally celebrated artist Spencer Tunick on this
exciting and ambitious new commission - the fantastic surroundings of
Newcastle and Gateshead quays make this the perfect place for the creation
of his latest installation.
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"The project requires the participation of many volunteers from
across the region and beyond, and we hope that as many people as possible
will come forward to share in this unique experience."
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Stuart Murphy, Controller of Â鶹Éç THREE, said: "Â鶹Éç THREE is all about
taking creative risks and our arts coverage is no different.
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"Flashmob - The Opera from Paddington recently won a Golden Rose at the
Rose D'Or television festival and our two Flashmobs have collectively
been watched by over seven times the number of people who visit the Royal
Opera House every year to watch opera.
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"Last Christmas, we commissioned David Shrigley, Hannah Starkey,
Abigail Lane and David Sherry to complete new works of art exclusively
for Â鶹Éç THREE's interactive Christmas Visions service.
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"Forging a creative partnership between BALTIC and Spencer Tunick
is part of Â鶹Éç THREE's role as a catalyst for exciting new arts projects
- audiences can look forward to television unlike anything they have seen
before."
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Tim Bartlett, Chief Executive at destination marketing agency Newcastle
Gateshead Initiative, which is funding the project, said: "Spencer Tunick's
decision to select the city as the backdrop for this historic art installation
strengthens NewcastleGateshead's growing reputation as a culturally vibrant
destination - a place where world-class arts and cultural events are encouraged,
supported and celebrated.
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"The images from this installation will be seen by millions of people
across the UK and the world, once again showcasing NewcastleGateshead's
spectacular and iconic landscapes on an international stage.
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"This project also provides an extraordinary opportunity for local
people to get involved in a landmark piece of contemporary art."
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Councillor Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council, said "Spencer Tunick
is a high profile artist on the international circuit who has already
worked in Barcelona and New York. His work is not only interesting, it
is adventurous and brave and we are delighted that he has decided to come
and work in NewcastleGateshead to add a new dimension to our cityscape."
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Andrew Dixon Executive Director, Arts Council England, North East said,
"The North East has become a world leader in commissioning art in public
places. Spencer Tunick's work will add to our growing cultural reputation
creating an artwork that involves both the public and our great cityscape."
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To take part in this landmark project volunteers must register in advance
at: www.balticprojects.org/tunick
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All participants will receive a free limited edition print of the installation.
It will go ahead rain or shine, and participants will be contacted closer
to the event with further instructions and arrival time.
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To take part in this project you must be 18 or over.
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Only participants will be allowed in the immediate vicinity of the art
event.
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Notes to Editors:
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Spencer Tunick was born in Middletown, New York, and currently lives
in Brooklyn.
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He has been documenting the live nude figure in public since 1992 and
has created installations around the world in spectacular locations including
Belgium, Australia, Canada, USA and Brazil, gathering thousands of people
at one time.
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His temporary site-specific installations in the past have been commissioned
by the Vienna Kunsthalle (1999); Institut Cultura, Barcelona (2003); XXV
Bienal de Sao Paulo, Brazil (2002); The Saatchi Gallery (2003); and MOCA
Cleveland (2004), among others.
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Creating temporary site-specific landscapes involving many nude figures
arranged in public places, Tunick's installations follow on the tradition
of land art.
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Working directly in the landscape, the artist uses the nude body as
raw material to intervene and transform a chosen site, documenting the
installations with photography and video which he then exhibits in a gallery
context.
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The poetic whole, resulting from individual bodies arranged in a sculptural
way in an urban setting, challenges traditionally- held views on nudity
and privacy as well as social and political issues surrounding art in
the public sphere.
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culture10 is a multi-million pound cultural programme, managed by Newcastle
Gateshead Initiative, to develop and deliver world-class events which
will have a positive economic impact on, engage local communities in,
and attract high-spending visitors to NewcastleGateshead and the wider
region.
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BALTIC is a major international centre for contemporary art situated
on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead, England. BALTIC presents
a constantly changing, dynamic and ambitious programme of complimentary
exhibitions and events with a strong emphasis on new commissions.
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BALTIC has welcomed more than 1.8 million visitors since opening to the
public in July 2002.
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