Artist's naked truth still hits raw nerve

CONTROVERSIAL: Tom Turner's exhibition has been turned down by one Wanganui gallery, and the Chronicle added some cover, feeling it was a little too explicit for the newspaper.PHOTO/ STUART MUNRO

Wanganui artist Tom Turner wanted to create a conversation with his latest exhibition. And three weeks out from its opening, he has succeeded.

The exhibition, 103 Years On, is a homage to Austrian artist Egon Sciele, known for his erotic work in the early 20th century.

For displaying his erotic and nude paintings, Sciele was arrested in April 1912, charged with public immorality and imprisoned for 24 days.

Turner's paintings are in a similar style and he has already created debate with the exhibition's original destination, Space Studio & Gallery, declining to display his work.

Turner says his exhibition is a "painterly exploration of erotic Austrian expressionism through the lens of 21st century public domain". The collection of about 30 paintings will now be on display at Gallery on Guyton from May 1.

Turner wanted to revisited Sciele's themes to see if attitudes had changed in 103 years.

"I wanted to provoke discussion as to where contemporary society now sits with issues about sexuality while also tackling the difficult issues surrounding freedom of expression," he said.

His 103 Years On exhibition is a return to painting for Turner, better known for his sculpting.

Where Sciele painted real people, Turner has used public domain images to inspire his work. But, like Sciele, he said he had painted the figures honestly and not aestheticised them.

"Most people seem to see it in an open-minded kind of way, but I don't know what to expect. What I do know is that one gallery has already banned my work."

Space Studio & Gallery manager Sarah Williams said she wished him well in his show.

Turner said he held no grudge towards any gallery that did not want to show his work but was interested in the discussion it would create.

"I'm happy with the work - I've been working hard on this for many months."

The show will run until May 16.