A petition has been launched to overturn a decision made by a Melbourne Woolworths which has refused to allow world famous photographer Spencer Tunick to conduct a nude photoshoot on its rooftop carpark.
The US artist, who is due to arrive in Melbourne next month to shoot a series of mass nude photographs, has had his request to shoot his "hero" shot at Woolworths Prahran denied due to a "potential loss of trade".
Chapel Street Precinct Association (CSPA), which has started the petition, are arguing Woolworths are at no risk of losing trade as the shoot will be conducted before 9am.
"This decision is ludicrous because Spencer’s installation will be finished by 9am and the evidence we have already provided proves this," CSPA Executive Chairman, John Lotton, said.
"We undertook a detailed reconnaissance before approaching Woolworths to ensure Spencer’s installation would not cause a detrimental impact to trading in the store.
"We have photographic proof that only four cars used the car park at this time on a Saturday – it doesn’t get busy until much later."
In a statement given to ABC, a Woolworths spokesperson said, "We recently upgraded the rooftop car park at our Prahran store to make it more accessible and comfortable and its primary purpose is so our customers have convenient access to available car parking close to our store.
"The request for the photo was for the weekend, which is the busiest time of the week for shopping in our stores, and as such we must ensure customers have convenient access to our store when we are open."
Tunick has welcomed the petition, arguing that his work brings out "the common themes of community, individual identity, and the challenges of making the arts an inclusive experience rather than an exclusive experience".
"Working on the Woolworths Prahran rooftop car park provides an amazing opportunity to let the citizens of Melbourne become the artist themselves – to remind the citizens of Melbourne that Woolworths has a symbiotic relationship with them," Tunick said.
"Ultimately, the final images will document an extraordinary moment in the timeline of Prahran.
"I would also like to note that, as a site-specific artist, I have a long record of working in some of the most iconic and historic locations in the world. I have had the opportunity to work in Grand Central Station in NYC, the Opera House in Brugge Belgium, and the Four Seasons Restaurant in NYC. I have even worked in UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland.
"I believe that this latest spot [in Melbourne] has something uniquely special about it…. It’s otherworldly."
For more details on the petition, click here.
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