Premier steers clear of Woolies nude photo disagreement

SPENCER Tunick has urged Daniel Andrews to make Woolworths back down from a ban on his mass nude picture, even offering him a “special place” to pose in the shoot. But the Premier isn’t budging.

WORLD-renowned artist Spencer Tunick has called for Premier Daniel Andrews to intervene and make Woolworths back down from banning his next mass-nudity photograph on its supermarket rooftop in Prahran.

Tunick said the Woolworths Prahran carpark rooftop was the only location that suited his naked ambition, adding the proposed nude artwork would bare Melbourne to the world.

The Herald Sun revealed on Thursday Woolies had banned the photo shoot, claiming it’s customer would be disrupted.

The New York-based artist said he would reserve a special spot for the Premier to disrobe on the Prahran Woolworths roof if he got the supermarket giant to play ball.

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Woolworths Prahran’s rooftop car park.

“I’d like to put a call out for the Premier of Victoria — Daniel Andrews, to use his political sway in getting Woolworths over the line,” Tunick told the Herald Sun.

“Please help us Daniel. If you can help change Woolworths mind, I will reserve a special place for you to pose nude with the rest of ­Victorians in the carpark installation. The view will be spectacular and it will show Melbourne off to the world.”

But Premier Andrews wasn’t buying into the global artistic disagreement, saying the decision was up to Woolies.

“Any rooftop in July in Melbourne’s going to be reasonably chilly, I would think, but I’m sure they’ll find an alternative venue,” Premier Andrews said.

He also declined Tunick’s offer to strip down for art.

Woolies is standing firm on its decision, a spokesman saying earlier this week it would be too disruptive and deny carparking.

Tunick said he did not believe this was the real reason for Woolworths “prudish stance”. He said the artwork would have cultural significance and that corporations should be more forward thinking.

Naked men and women posing on the banks of the Yarra River for artist photographer Spencer Tunick in 2001.

Artist Spencer Tunick’s mass nude photo at the Sydney Opera House.

Photo subjects prepare for a Spencer Tunick shoot at the Bolte Bridge.

Spencer Tunick, Munich

Ten-thousand potential nudes have signed up to pose for the headline act for Chapel St’s Provocare Festival in July.

The Chapel Street Precinct Association has also started a petition, receiving more than 1000 signatures in less than 24 hours. Spokesman John Lotton said the carpark only hosted a handful of cars at the early hour of the photo shoot.

“We weren’t going to have a detrimental effect on their customers,” Lotton said.

The artist last visited Australia in 2010, photographing nude people on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

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