The naked truth: men and women pose for photographer Spencer Tunick in the grounds of Blarney Castle
IT WAS back to nature in a serious way yesterday after more than 1,000 people took up American artist Spencer Tunick’s “Dare to Bare” challenge when they stripped off for a series of striking nude photographs in the shadow of Blarney Castle.
Participants began gathering at the castle at 3am and spent the first two hours or so preparing for the series of installation shots, finally being asked to strip off at about 5am by the New York-born artist, who was more than pleased with the result.
“I’m very happy, I can’t believe over 1,000 people showed up; I was expecting a little bit lower than that – they are very rebellious down here in Cork and I’m very happy about that,” said Tunick after completing the main group scene shots.
“It seems like the weather is holding up so we’re going to make some more beautiful work – maybe we’ll dip 75 women backwards, kissing the Blarney Stone, I think that would be interesting, and I think we’re going to get some men in the river with golden coins.”
Among those participating in yesterday’s installation was the director of the Cork Film Festival, Mick Hannigan, who revealed that he had been following Tunick’s work for years and regularly logged on to his website to view his latest projects.
“It’s great to be part of the experience – it’s wonderful that so many people can participate to create a work of beauty – he’s a wonderful organiser and he did it all with dignity and humour and I think everybody enjoyed the experience,” Hannigan said.
The project was part of the Cork Midsummer Festival. Blarney Castle owner Sir Charles Colthurst said he had first been approached by festival director William Galinsky inquiring if it would be possible to hold an installation in the grounds.
“We got a phone call several months ago saying we were on a shortlist and then we finally heard about four weeks ago that we had been chosen and we were thrilled about that – it’s great to be able to assist in a work of art like this,” said Sir Charles. “It’s great for Blarney Castle and I would hope it’s reciprocal in that it helps him to be able to use somewhere like us as a setting for one of his installations, and it all went off so wonderfully – everything was so well organised and well stewarded,” he added.
Women were given red roses and men white roses, and during one of the installations they were asked to lie on their backs while holding the roses up in the air.
Jurgen Faulstich, from Berlin but living in Cork, was impressed with the organisation. “It became cold, especially lying on the grass on our backs; there wasn’t a lot of rehearsal, just a couple of instructions; take your clothes off, walk this way, and it went well.”
Tunick is looking forward to his next installation at the Dublin Docklands on Saturday morning, following an invitation from the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, and he was equally confident of a good turnout.
“A lot of my ideas here at the castle are very whimsical, but I’m making the work I definitely envisioned – it’s a personal vision and I’m quite happy with the work and I’m just as excited to head up to Dublin on Saturday morning and do my next body of work. And I’m just really happy that all the politicians and all the city councils in Dublin and in Cork are going to accept the body as art and not as pornography and not as crime while naked in a public space.”