How do you get 5,200 people to show up on the steps of the Sydney Opera House wearing nothing but a birthday suit and a smile? If you’re U.S. artist Spencer Tunick, you simply ask for
volunteers. He’s known world-wide for his installations using clothesless people. This one pictured March 1, 2010 is titled “Mardi Gras, the Base.” It was commissioned by the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and aimed to “emphasize and celebrate the sameness of individuals – regardless of their sexual preferences”.
The shoot attracted a wide spectrum of goose-fleshed humanity from every walk of life, and lasted 90 minutes. In one pose,Tunick directed “all couples to embrace and kiss, all friends to kiss and all strangers to do whatever they want”. This was undoubtedly a popular pose, as this is the first day of fall in Australia. Like participants in his other installations, people say there is nothing sexual, but are quite exhilarated at having the chance to be a
part of the art statement. One was quoted calling it a “tribal…gathering of humanity”.