Levin library bans nipple photo from exhibition

Photographer Mariana Waculicz with one of her images in the Mangahuia exhibition.

A photographic exhibition in Levin's library and cultural centre has had one of its images taken down because a woman's nipples were visible.

Four complaints from members of the public were received about a photo of a young woman, visible from the waist up, floating on her back in a river.

The removed image was part of the Mangahuia exhibition, at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po, featuring photography by Mariana Waculicz and writing by Ashleigh Collis.

The exhibition looks at the relationship between people and the river, and the Maori concept that the river, or awa, is a metaphorical, life-giving body.

Waculicz said she asked subjects to interact naturally with the river, which she then documented.

Other images showed topless male subjects in the water, as well as a naked pregnant woman shown from the waist up, with her long hair covering her nipples but not all of her breasts. None of those were complained about.

Waculicz said the fact the woman was topless in the picture was almost a side note.

"It was not my focus for this exhibition. Maori regard the river as the human body, [the nudity] just happened," she said. "I asked people to interact with the river."

She felt it was unfair to be asked to remove the photograph a week into the exhibition, but as it was her first exhibition, and it had been funded by a Creative Communities grant from Horowhenua District Council, she couldn't take a stand.

"I didn't know how far I should fight for equality," she said. "I just felt really sad - to me it was nothing sexual, just really artistic and what I wanted to bring to the exhibition."

Waculicz said a complaint had come from an organisation that brings ex-offenders into the facility, and the person who called said bringing those types of people in and looking at that picture may have negative consequences.

"That was even more disturbing when I learned that because, to me, it should be the opposite reaction, like maybe celebrate the fact that this female body is here and it's not on that [sexual] level," she said. "It's a chance for change."

Horowhenua District Council communications lead Lacey Wilson said the council had received feedback from four people, whose concerns were around the image being within "easy accessibility for children and vulnerable people within our community".

"The aim of the exhibition was to install more pride in our local rivers and natural environment.

"Those who feature in the photographs shared their stories on how the rivers and environment positively impact them.

"[The] council has since apologised to those who raised their concerns about a piece of the exhibition, for any distress caused," Wilson said.

She added the council didn't necessarily agree with the views of those who raised their concerns, and would review its policy to ensure more clarity.