Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Naked Sea Installation: overexposure?

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Would you rather see just this lone person at the Dead Sea shore or a thousand?
If American artist Spencer Tunick has his way 1,000 Israelis will converge at some as yet secret meeting place at this lowest place on earth, undress, and pose naked for his photographs and videos.
On Saturday, Shabbat, the Sabbath.
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Supposedly it is meant to call attention to the fragile nature of the shrinking Dead Sea and to make you vote for the lake as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature -- oh, yeah, and to improve Israel's image in the world.
Tunick also wants to prove that the Jewish State is the only country in the Middle East with religious freedom. (We'll see about that . . . )
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If your kids aren't looking over your shoulder, you might click here to see a clip of Tunick's style in other countries.
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Three thousand Israelis volunteered for the project.
Only one thousand were selected.
I wonder how these chosen people were chosen.
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Red tape might block this mass photo shoot.
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OK friends, I can hardly wait to read your comments!
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Hopefully the little sliver of hazy January sky above the mountains of Jordan, just after sunset, qualifies this photo for Sky Watch Friday.
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UPDATE: I can hardly believe it! They really did it. See the first photo and first news article about the photo shoot at Haaretz.
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23 comments:

  1. an interesting concept, certainly will get some attention... I like YOUR photo with one person...the exposure seems just right to me:-)

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  2. Are people still allowed to swim (float) in the Dead Sea, Dina? It doesn't look like it's shrinking. I can almost see the earth curve on the horizon below that lovely pearly sky.
    — K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  3. In my opinion, it might take away the interest of nature and ultimately its scope.
    One could have thougth of taking pictures of the sea itself, maybe from a plane, to see the variation of its size, its environment etc.
    Somehow the idea feels like an outcry of how fragile the human being is, and that nature might be even stronger.
    Interesting indeed. Please have a good Friday.

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  4. I guess that's one way to get publicity for the Dead Sea, but I like your photo of the one person better :)

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  5. OMG - that was the coolest video clip! What an eyebrow raising form or art!
    Hmmm, I wonder how I could get him to do a project here in friendly EAGAN....
    Hope you get a photo of the group at the Dead Sea, Dina! (Unless you're joining the models)
    : - )

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  6. Curious. Why is he always depicted with clothes on? I dunno. Guess, I'm too conservative to appear nude in public. Diversity makes the world go round.

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  7. The Dead Sea is disappearing before our eyes:( I am only in Israel every 18 months and I can see more clearly than the locals that the water level has been diminishing every year.

    Even if Spencer Tunick just gets people to look at the naked bums, he MIGHT also activate people to take notice of the disappearing Dead Sea. Drought is a nightmare.

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  8. I've seen some of his stuff. I much prefer your photos.

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  9. Very fine image, Dina.
    I must say that Tunick's style is not to my taste.
    Happy Friday!

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  10. Spencer Tunick appears to be one of those 'artists' who think publicity is all. Israel deserves better.

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  11. Beautiful photo. If the project brings attention to the problem of drying, why not ?
    But in nature i rather like it more individual.

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  12. As they say: the mother of the fool is always pregnant...

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  13. Thank you for the link, Dina. Tunick's images are fantastic but I didn't know about this Dead Sea project. Can't wait to see it done.

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  14. I think the solitude of one person on the shores is synonymous with the state of the sea. Lovely photo.

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  15. An interesting way to attract attention, but I like your photo much more :)

    Regards and best wishes

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  16. Although there were no naked people there, I did measure the shrinking elevation of the Dead Sea several weeks agao at the point at which the Jordan enters on the Jordanian side. It is down to -424 metres. The poor Jordan River was 6 inches deep and two feet across. The water level is almost as shallow as it was back in the Byzantine Era when the entire Southern end was completely dry south of Lisan. If getting peole naked helps, I am all for it.

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  17. I think I go for your photo! Too much people..and naked. Not my taste.

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  18. I'm with JM... I think his installations are powerful. And apparently participating in one is also very moving.

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  19. Beautiful view.. even though the sea is .... dead.. :-)

    Pixellicious Photos

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