Merlion
05-11-2007, 07:02 PM
This is a naked 70 ft man floating face down above your head in a public park. In Milan, Italy, this does not raise much of an eyebrow.
Crowds Amused by Naked Balloon Sculpture (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051001407.html)
May 10, 2007; MILAN, Italy -- It would take one very large fig leaf to restore modesty to Milan's main park after the installation of a 70-foot floating sculpture of a naked man. The balloon self-portrait by Polish artist Pawel Althamer has been hovering outside the Renaissance Palazzina Appiani in Parco Sempione since Monday, drawing second takes, amused looks and some reprobation about exposing children to nudity.
http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2007/05/10/PH2007051001410.jpg
"To be honest with you, it's nothing new," said Rosaria Mirabelli, mother of 3-year-old Tommaso who stared at the sculpture from the back of his mother's bicycle.
"He sees his father naked. In this park we see so many worse things than a naked man," she said, referring to the park's reputation as a haven for drug users.
On weekday afternoons, the park is given over to mothers, nannies and grandparents with preschool age children in tow, along with a few joggers, cyclists and dog owners.
"This wouldn't fly in the U.S.," observed 31-year-old American Adriana Spatafora, an English language teacher passing by.....
Crowds Amused by Naked Balloon Sculpture (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051001407.html)
May 10, 2007; MILAN, Italy -- It would take one very large fig leaf to restore modesty to Milan's main park after the installation of a 70-foot floating sculpture of a naked man. The balloon self-portrait by Polish artist Pawel Althamer has been hovering outside the Renaissance Palazzina Appiani in Parco Sempione since Monday, drawing second takes, amused looks and some reprobation about exposing children to nudity.
http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2007/05/10/PH2007051001410.jpg
"To be honest with you, it's nothing new," said Rosaria Mirabelli, mother of 3-year-old Tommaso who stared at the sculpture from the back of his mother's bicycle.
"He sees his father naked. In this park we see so many worse things than a naked man," she said, referring to the park's reputation as a haven for drug users.
On weekday afternoons, the park is given over to mothers, nannies and grandparents with preschool age children in tow, along with a few joggers, cyclists and dog owners.
"This wouldn't fly in the U.S.," observed 31-year-old American Adriana Spatafora, an English language teacher passing by.....