Thousands of people stripped naked for an art installation on Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach today. The surf beach became a nude zone for a day, when around 2,500 volunteers stripped completely naked to pose for American photographer Spencer Tunick. The art campaign was run in partnership with a charity that encourages Australians to get regular skin checks to help prevent skin cancer.
IMAGO/AAP/Dean Lewins
The number of participants was approximately equal to the number of Australians who die from skin cancer each year. Participant Bruce Fasher, 77, told AFP he had spent half his life in the sun and had “some malignant melanoma” removed from his back. “I thought that was a good thing and I love taking my clothes off at Bondi Beach.”
Tunick is known for his artwork featuring nude crowds at well-known landmarks around the world. In 2010, he held a similar event at the Sydney Opera House. “It’s only right that I use my platform to urge people to get regular checkups to prevent skin cancer,” said the photographer.