About 1,000 people bared all early today in the historic surroundings of Blarney Castle in Cork for a massive nude photoshoot by acclaimed contemporary artist Spencer Tunick.
Volunteers stripped naked in the grounds of the beauty spot for the dawn spectacle, which forms part of the Cork Midsummer Festival.
Tunick, who has been documenting the live nude figure in public since 1992, has created scores of images in spectacular locations including New York, Amsterdam and Mexico city.
His temporary site-specific installations have attracted up to 18,000 participants.
Tunick said he was thrilled with the turnout, which organisers estimated topped 1,100 people, and urged the public to think of the nude form as art.
He also praised local councillors for their support. “I cannot believe over 1000 people showed up,” Tunick said.
“I was expecting a little bit lower than that. They are very rebellious down here in Cork.
“I just want to reiterate that it’s very very important that government, politicians and the city council accept the body in public space for a small time.. in order to create art with a nude body.
“The body is not pornography, the body is not crime while naked. It can be art for a short period of time.”
Eager participants, all of whom were over 18 years of age, began arriving at about 3am for the massive outdoor project, braving the early morning chill.
Organisers said volunteers from different parts of the country took part with an even split of men and women.
The volunteers undressed before making their way across the open expanse with the castle towering behind them for the first of a number of photographs at about 5am.
They formed numerous poses, including looking into the camera, up at the castle and bending forward hanging their heads down.
They also had to lie down in the grass holding flowers. In exchange for taking part, the models will receive a limited edition photograph from the event.
Cork Midsummer Festival director William Galinsky said the volunteers seemed comfortable with the experience.
“The strangest moment was when people initially got undressed. Once they were undressed, after a few minutes suddenly they started to feel more comfortable,” he said.
“But for those on the crew and those watching, it was strangely emotional watching these people unrobe and then move like a giant human herd together. It was incredibly beautiful.
“A first for the midsummer festival, a first for Ireland.”
The second installation will take place on Saturday staged by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.
Further details can be found at www.spencertunickireland.ie.
Tunick is recognised worldwide for his elaborately posed still and video images of multiple nude figures in public settings.
The American photographer has snapped more than 75 nude installations all over the world, including Montreal, Melbourne, Lyon, London, Newcastle-Gateshead, Santiago, and Barcelona.
The photograph from his Greenpeace project on Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland was named Time Magazine’s Picture of the Year 2007.
PA