MONTREAL – Lying in the streets naked could get you in trouble in most places, but in Montreal on Saturday, about 2,000 people stripped with the blessing of authorities to pose for a New York photographer famed for juxtaposing flesh and concrete.
Spencer Tunick had asked Montrealers to strip for his latest “human sculpture” – part of his Nude Adrift series that will take him to every continent, including Antarctica, to shoot group nudes.
The throngs began disrobing enthusiastically at 5:30 a.m. as the morning air hovered at 55 degrees. Two young women and a man apparently changed their minds and tried to make a run for it once the order to get naked was given – but could not get into a nearby mall. Its doors had been locked to prevent photographers from entering to get good shots of the nudes.
“I want to thank the city of Montreal for recognizing this as art,” Mr. Tunick told the crowd. “This is art. Not good art or bad art, but it’s art.”
Mr. Tunick first had his nude models lie down side by side in curled positions on the corner of St. Catherine and Jeanne Mance streets. Nearby, Montreal’s Museum of Contemporary Art ran an exhibit featuring his photos called Metamorphosis and Cloning. He then had them lie face up for a second shot.
People were naked for about an hour. Mr. Tunick received a loud ovation when he told people they could put their clothes back on.
“I feel extremely energized,” said Jean-Pierre Leclerq, 41, after taking part in the session. “It was a lot fun. Nobody was uncomfortable, we all seemed very at ease.”
Mr. Tunick has been arrested for some of his previous work, including shots he did in his native New York City.
