Thousands of men and women have stripped off Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge to take part in a dramatic art shoot.
New York artist Spencer Tunick created a remarkable visual of thousands of barefoot people strolling through Brisbane before posing on a bridge.
The event formed part of the Melt Festival, which celebrates gay and LGBT culture.
“New York-based contemporary artist Spencer Tunick is looking for volunteers for a monumental installation upon his return to Brisbane in 2024 as part of the inaugural Melt, the city’s major new festival that celebrates queer art and culture ,” Melt’s website says in preparation for the awkward scene.
“The installation for Melt will take place on Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge on Sunday 27 October 2024.
“The bridge will be closed for this art event which will feature thousands of live nude figures in celebration of diversity, equality, inclusion and Brisbane’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ community and allies.”
Pictures from Sunday showed the bridge packed with naked bodies.
At once, everyone crouches on all fours, their heads turned into their chests.
In the second, everyone lies on their back, with their arms flat at their sides.
The Story Bridge shot follows Tunick’s mass nude photographs at other iconic sites including Bondi Beach and the Sydney Opera House.
The Brisbane powerhouse is hosting a Tunic exhibition titled Tide, showcasing her long career in mass nude photography.
“In his early group works, individuals, stripped of their clothes, are grouped together and morphed into a new shape,” the exhibition website states.
“The bodies spread in and over the landscape like a substance.
“These group groups, which do not underline sexuality, often become abstractions that challenge or reconfigure one’s ideas about nudity and privacy.
“This work also refers to the complex issue of presenting art in public spaces, permanent or temporary.”
The exhibition will run from 28 September to 10 November.
