In Aussie land we are currently having a debatre on whether it's ok to use naked children in art. Here's one of the news reports on it.


A TAXPAYER-funded magazine has used a picture of a naked six-year-old girl on the cover of its July edition in protest against the treatment of artist Bill Henson.
Angered by the "hysteria" over Henson's pictures of a 13-year-old girl, the magazine also has a number of highly sexualised images inside, The Sunday Telegraph newspaper says.
Art Monthly editor Maurice O'Riordan says he hopes the July edition will restore some "dignity to the debate", the paper says.
It says an angry NSW Premier Morris Iemma on Saturday threatened to withdraw the magazine's funding.
The July edition of Art Monthly Australia also includes several provocative photos of children posing naked in adult jewellery as well as naked teenage girls.
In the editorial, Maurice O'Riordan says he chose the picture of the young girl in the "hope of restoring some dignity to the debate" and to "validate nudity and childhood as subjects for art".
Mr O'Riordan, who does not have children of his own, told The Sunday Telegraph he does not care if it stirs community complaint.
"Maybe this is bold, but I don't see the need to give in to that sort of hysteria or the prospect of complaint.
"I couldn't really understand the furore."
Art Monthly Australia receives more than $50,000 in funding from the Federal Government's Council for the Arts and lists the NSW Ministry for the Arts under sponsors and partner. The State Government has issued grants to the magazine in previous years.
Mr Iemma immediately threatened to withdraw future funding after he was contacted about the images on Saturday.
"Images of this kind are distasteful, exploitative of children - a cheap, sick stunt at the expense of a young child," he said.
"We've now reached a sad point where some people think naked kids can boost their sales and get them a headline. We will have no role in funding them while they use images that exploit children."
More than 5,000 copies of the magazine have been distributed across Australia.
The magazine also includes images by Bill Henson.
In May, police raided the Roslyn Oxley Gallery in Paddington, confiscating several images by Mr Henson, including the photographs of a naked 13-year-old girl.
The photos sparked major national debate and angered several organisations, including child welfare groups, with Mr Iemma labelling the works "offensive and disgusting".
Mr Henson was cleared of any wrongdoing following a police investigation.
A spokeswoman for the Australia Council on Saturday defended its decision to help fund the magazine. She said the council regards Mr Henson as one of the country's premier artists.

I'm an artist and all but, there is no need to express yourself w/ naked , sexual pics of children EVER!! I think I'm pretty darn open minded but , it sounds like this guy is just pushing the envelope for the sake of getting press....It's too bad that his art isn't good enough to garner attention w/o resorting to tactics like this !!!

I agree. This Henson guy sounds like a kid-toucher. I understand the whole human-body-is-beautiful-and-it's-people-who-make-it-dirty arguement, but the children aren't in a position (lacking maturity) to consent or further this arguement. Exploitive is precisely what it is.

Quoting Punkerella:“ I'm an artist and all but, there is no need to express yourself w/ naked , sexual pics of children EVER!! ... [snip!] ... sake of getting press....It's too bad that his art isn't good enough to garner attention w/o resorting to tactics like this !!!”

I thought the same thing. The girl from the pics even had an interview on the news saying she wasn't abused and she loves the pics. I've seen the pics and trust me, they are highly sexual!

Quoting Nicole B:“ I thought the same thing. The girl from the pics even had an interview on the news saying she wasn't abused and she loves the pics. I've seen the pics and trust me, they are highly sexual!”

That's just sad. I've read interviews with victims who also indicated that they felt that thetouching and fondling was'ok' and that daddy/uncle/brother was just showing them affection. I get queasyjust thinking about the subject. Such animals should be doused in petrol and set afire.

Quoting J-Ray:“ That's just sad. I've read interviews with victims who also indicated that they felt that thetouching ... [snip!] ... showing them affection. I get queasyjust thinking about the subject. Such animals should be doused in petrol and set afire.”

I knew my BG buddies would let me vent about this. Pissed me right off. They are not normal!

Quoting Nicole B:“ In Aussie land we are currently having a debatre on whether it's ok to use naked children in art. Here's ... [snip!] ... its decision to help fund the magazine. She said the council regards Mr Henson as one of the country's premier artists.”

i thought this was so disgusting. when i first heard it on the news i thought it was the 13 year old again but when i heard she was only 6 i was shocked!! i wanna know what is wrong with this girls parents?!?! even if the photographer was her father or something like that that is still completely wrong.
i cant see the 'art' in looking at a naked child

Just, gross.

I am an artist aswell, and I think that this is completely inapropiate.

Quoting amy doll.:“ Just, gross.”

I know! Pissed me off so much and you should see the weirdo family this poor kid has. Sad.

Quoting Nicole B:“ I knew my BG buddies would let me vent about this. Pissed me right off. They are not normal!”

I agree with you 100 percent... those picks make me feel wierd its def. no Anne Geddes(sp?).... and the girl what is she like 12 now... since when do we let 12 year olds make adult decisions... oh you cant have beer until 18, sex until 16, but you can be naked on the front cover of a magazine... what a load of shit.... Who the hell even lets their kids pose naked... if anyone asked to take pics. of Molly naked I would probably report them to the police... crazies...

Quoting adelaidemum~Ella's here~:“ I agree with you 100 percent... those picks make me feel wierd its def. no Anne Geddes(sp?).... and the ... [snip!] ... their kids pose naked... if anyone asked to take pics. of Molly naked I would probably report them to the police... crazies...”

that's the other thought that I was having is who the hell would let their child pose for this creepo?? I would totally kick someone's ass for even suggesting such a thing to me!!

Quoting Punkerella:“ that's the other thought that I was having is who the hell would let their child pose for this creepo?? I would totally kick someone's ass for even suggesting such a thing to me!!”

yep.. I dont understand who would let their 6 year old do that....well actually I do maybe someone desperate for some cash... ewie.. as a mum to 2 daughters I would never ever ever let anyone take naked pics. of them..ever   ...... I just dont think its appropriate at all... and its actually disturbing me a lot

Quoting adelaidemum~Ella's here~:“ yep.. I dont understand who would let their 6 year old do that....well actually I do maybe someone desperate ... [snip!] ... take naked pics. of them..ever   ...... I just dont think its appropriate at all... and its actually disturbing me a lot”

ditto to that ..with a little girl on the way this kind of stuff makes me very upset!!
The parents that allow their kids to pose for this guy are probably the same sort that let their kids go play at Micheal Jackson's house!!
sickos any way you put it !!

the parents should be charged or something, they shouldnt be allowed to get away with exploiting their little girl in this way