- Contribtued
A Brian Rosen photograph which he has posted on his website www.brianrosen.comAndrew Clunis, Freelance Writer
Jamaica, like our neighbours to the north operates on the premise, 'sex sells'. So nudity carries high aesthetic value and some Jamaicans are increasingly becoming bold enough to commission artistic works of themselves in the nude.
Still, some feel that Jamaica is not moving swiftly enough with the times as nudity is still abhorred in some circles.
Recently Air Jamaica's inflight magazine Skywritings removed a photograph of a painting by Albert Huie, titled 'Miss Mahogany', from its publication. The painting had pubic hair exposed, so the publishers of the magazine had second thoughts and tore out the page on which the painting was reproduced, from all the magazines.
Art buff Wallace Campbell sees it as a clumsy attempt at censorship and says that art lovers and people concerned with freedom of expression have been inflamed.
"We cannot believe that we have not moved forward in 40 years," he told Showbiz.
When the painting was first done 40 years ago, it was embroiled in controversy because of the candid way in which pubic hair was shown. Mr. Campbell feels it is time Jamaica moves away from the conservative views which supported that situation back then.
"The nude has been a long standing central theme in art from the time of the Greeks through to the Renaissance on to this day. There is absolutely nothing lewd about Huie's nude. If anything, it is reticent in its portrayal of the female sexuality.
"Ever since the naturalist/realist movement of the mid-19th century, artists have customarily shown pubic hair when dealing with the female nude. Courbet's (leader of the realist movement in art) famous work 'Origin Of The World', which glorifies the female pudendum, hangs in the Louvre and has been reproduced countless times. There are nudes in the Vatican. We have not gone forward," said the collector of 25 years who is reputed to have the largest collection of Caribbean art in the world.
Expressions of nudity do not sit well with most people in this largely Christian fundamentalist society. Despite the fact that you see it in the middle of Cross Roads and Half-Way Tree ever so often from deranged people walking nude on the streets, the child who is caught with a 'dirty' magazine gets punished.
Still, nudity is very popular and accepted by many of the island's elite.
Jamaican photographer Brian Rosen, who is thought to capture the nude form best on still camera, says many people have a passion for nudity and explore it in a clandestine way. He says Jamaica is changing its attitude toward nudity.
"When I first started in the business 20 years ago a lot of people looked at nudity as being obscene and offensive. But today it's not as bad as it used to be. People are appreciating nudity more as art," he told Showbiz.
Mr. Rosen has difficulty drawing the line between artistic nudity and pornography.
"It is difficult. The nude form is the most beautiful piece of art, but when you start to stage scenes and use implements, you are crossing the line. When you apply the proper lighting, to get a desired effect, you have art," he continued.
According to Mr. Rosen, a large number of Jamaicans are interested in nude art and general nudity.
"A lot of companies want calendars which are risque," he said.
Interestingly, he has had no problem finding models for such assignments. And to prove his point, he told a story of a recent situation:
"Some people from Playboy said they were interested in doing a photo shoot here in Jamaica. I just put the word out and I almost had to call a riot squad to keep women from my gate," he said.
The Jamaican glamour photographer has taken pictures of many of the top beauty contestants in Jamaica, many of whom start out in bikinis, before shedding their garments to stand in the nude. Then there are lots of wives who ask to be photographed nude for their husbands. Many of sculptor Raymond Watson's works are nudes, a presentation which he feels is generally accepted in Jamaica.
"There are instances when people find nudity offensive, but generally people should be allowed to express themselves," he said. Artist Susan Alexander believes people who find nudes offensive these days are those who lack exposure and knowledge.
"Most people who are educated in art would not feel that way, unless they have some religious stance that would make it offensive to them. I enjoy painting the human body and this is something most artists cherish," she continued. Mr. Rosen said a firm professional edge has to be maintained when working with nude models.
"Women feel comfortable around me, because I have built up a reputation of keeping it professional," he said.
"I would advise many young photographers to stick to what they know because the pie in this area is very small and Jamaica is a small country. You could get into trouble!" he continued.
