Controversial nude photo exhibition by Danish artist Mathilde Grafström opened yesterday at Nytorv square in central Copenhagen.
The exhibition was initially banned by Copenhagen Police who described the character of the photos as pornographic, but Grafström was eventually granted a permission to showcase her project that focuses on helping women overcome negative body image.
‘Female Beauty 2016 – Nude in the public space’ features nude pictures of 71 women posing in nature.
“It’s important for me that my models understand that the pictures I want to make of her are not about how she looks physically, but about the life energy and beauty she contains,” Grafström writes on her website.
“I believe that the saying, that true beauty comes from inside, is actually true, so it’s not so much about the pose or position she is in when we are shooting, but more about the deeper understanding of herself.”
The festive opening was attended by the culture minister, Bertel Haarder, who wondered “why it is a problem to exhibit nude [photos] in Denmark when people can see a lot of nudity everywhere”, and he added:
“There are so many women who are unhappy with their bodies because they compare themselves with the horrible ideals [projected by] the fashion industry.”
The photo exhibition will run until August 5.
