Pay $250 for a photo with a nude artist?

At Art Stage Singapore this year, many were shocked by an exhibition by artist T. Venkanna. He posed naked in front of a replica of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo's The Two Fridas, and visitors to his exhibition could join him in the room , hold his hand, and get a photograph taken for a token price of $250.

Singapore is a relatively conservative country. Many did not appreciate T. Venkanna’s exhibit and felt that it was morally wrong. A couple who strolled naked in public were fined a maximum S$2,000, or jailed 3 months, or both for their crime. They felt that what the artist had done was similar, and what was even more unreasonable was that visitors had to pay $250 just to pose for a photo with him.

However, as Andy Warhol says,

The main objective of T. Venkanna’s art installation is "removing the trappings of identity". Through this, he might be trying to connect his humanity with the visitors. However, his artistic intentions might have backfired. While there were a few “brave souls”, mostly females, who took part in the exhibit, most passers by peeked in, only to see a man in the nude. These passers by were turned off by the man in the nude, feeling that, maybe it was all too much humanity to connect with.

The extra charge of $250 is also very unreasonable. Visitors to the exhibit have to pay for this charge for the photograph on top of the entrance fee to Art Stage Singapore. Where will this money go? Into the artist’s own pocket? I feel that the artist should donate some of this money for a good cause. Art Stage Singapore is a public place. Why should the artist be earning $250 for every photo taken while those who indecently expose themselves get fined of jailed?

Art can be found in any form. T. Venkanna can say that this work is HIS art, and therefore, as he thinks that it is art, it is art. I agree that it is art. However, I disagree that such a high price should be put on such a temporary memory, which is captured by a camera. Therefore, it might be art, and it might be innovative and interesting.

But I don’t like it.