Man upset by nude art

NELSON MAIL

OFFENSIVE? Joie de Vivre, by Nelson artist Nikki Huizinga.

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The happiness that Nelson artist Nikki Huizinga was trying to depict in her award-winning painting, Joie de Vivre, has failed to rub off on one viewer who says it's "highly offensive" and shouldn't be displayed in public.

Hanmer chef Robert Hewitt wrote to The Nelson Mail complaining that he had to divert the attention of his three-year-old son when he came across the painting displayed in the Impressions picture framers and art supplies store in Richmond.

"Frankly, I was appalled," he said. "One can appreciate art but it should be at their choice, within the confines of a gallery, not put on public display for the viewing of the innocent in a shop selling art and craft supplies.

"Like many in Nelson, I am a member of a local church. Most feel nudity is private and should not be exposed to the unwilling viewer."

Mr Hewitt encouraged others "who had viewed this very inappropriate painting" to complain to the shop as he had. The Nelson Mail has been unable to reach him for further comment.

Shop co-owner Glenys Della Bosca and Huizinga have both been surprised by Mr Hewitt's response, particularly given the positive feedback the painting has drawn from others.

The painting featured in the Arts Council Nelson Impressions Regional Art Awards and was voted people's favourite. All winning entries went on display at Impressions this week.

Mrs Della Bosca said many customers, including a woman with a three-year-old child and baby, looked at the picture "long and hard" and commented how wonderful it was.

The other art works were displayed to the street front but Mrs Della Bosca "tried to be sensitive" by having Huizinga's work face into the shop.

"No-one is required to stand there and look at it. It's not pornographic or anything like that.

"I think the reaction [of Mr Hewitt] is somewhat over the top. As such, I can only treat it with a little bit of disdain."

Huizinga, a Nelson artist in her mid-40s, said the painting was created for an emotion category in the competition. She deliberately pictured beautiful bodies so it wouldn't be offensive and had hoped viewers would find joy in it.

"I thought it was fun-loving and it's happy." She "felt awful" that it had generated a complaint when the Impressions store had done so much to support the regional art awards.

"What would the guy do if he saw the latest Farmers catalogue? It's full of bikini-clad women."

Huizinga said she had no problem with her grandchild seeing the painting. "A child who views a painting like that at that age, they're innocent and they see nothing of it. They lose their innocence through the teachings of adults."

The painting is for sale for $4800. It's the only one of 200 in the awards that someone has offered to buy but they were $1000 short of the asking price, she said. Huizinga's son also wants it for his 21st birthday.

Lloyd Harwood, of the Arts Council Nelson, said Huizinga's work was "technically brilliant" and "a clear winner" of the people's choice award.

He "half expected" someone to find it mildly offensive but didn't receive any complaints from hundreds who viewed the award entries.

- © Fairfax NZ News