30 January 2001

One Eye Art Gallery Should Focus On The Public Good

Party Leader Graham Capill has spoken out against the One Eye Art Gallery in Paekakariki, for is exhibition called Group Sex.

Mr Capill said, “Most Kiwis would not condone such behaviour and consider the depiction of it as bizarre and perverted.

“This is not just erotica and goes much further than just showing nudity. The theme is objectionable as is the public exhibition of such obscene material.

“The Gallery should contemplate the back-lash against the Wellington City Gallery when it thought the Keith Haring Exhibition was going to receive public support. Not only were the numbers well below projected targets, but also the financial loss meant the Gallery’s cash reserves of over $350,000 were depleted. One Eye Gallery ought to have an eye on this outcome.

The Christian Heritage Party will seek to have the works classified should a legal opinion show that they have breached the law or that it should be made objectionable.

“The fact the Gallery has seen fit to self-impose an R16 restriction, suggests the Classification Office might be interested. When Christian Heritage referred Keith Haring to the Office, it was deemed ‘Objectionable’ and some of the works were given R18 Classifications,” Mr Capill concluded.

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