29th
The Spice Of Life: Erotic Body Casts
The art of Jamie McCartney begs the question- where is the dividing line between pornography and erotic art? McCartney doesn’t make the answer easy because he depicts the erotic world without the restraint normally exhibited by serious artists. He goes where no other artist normally goes when he depicts erect penises, for example and then challenges us to see them as objects of beauty.
It is common for people to resort to the “intent” argument in cases like this. In other words if the artist has a “pure intent” to make art, then it is art. If the intent is merely to sexually arouse then it is pornography. Thus the art of Jeff Koons is considered to be serious art even when it depicts sexual intercourse. The same thing is said about the drawings and prints by Rembrandt that depict sexual intercourse. They are described as erotic art, not as pornography.
Jamie McCartney is not so easy to classify. His casts of erections and vaginas are clearly intended in many cases to be for the intimate life of a couple. He even offers a service of making custom made dildoes.
Yet when Jamie McCartney won the Erotic Signature International Sculpture Prize with a piece called “The Spice Of Life” the work is clearly a wonderful and intellectually stimulating as well as titillating work of art. It consists of 84 erotic body casts of breasts, vulvas, and penises, both flacid and erect. The overall effect is fascinating and (in my opinion) extremely beautiful.
The work can be seen by using the link to Jamie’s web site below, however it should be said that if you are in any way offended by the sight of erect penises and depictions of the vulva then do not click the link. The artwork would also not be considered suitable viewing for persons under 18 years of age by many parents.
Life casts of the human body have been made since the Renaissance, but became especially common during the 18th and 19th century as a way for some sculptors to start sculptural works. The technique fell into disrepute but has seen a revival with the pop artists, especially George Segal, Duanne Hanson and John de Andrea.
Few artist’s, however, have been as daring as Jamie McCartney in exploring erotic body casting and presenting it as art.
Links:Jamie McCartney’s official web site. Do not enter if you are under 18 or are offended by art of an erotic nature.
Latest Projects of Jamie McCartney.
