PICS: Thousands strip naked on streets of Hull
THOUSANDS of people stripped off and painted themselves blue for a mass human artwork to celebrate Hull’s relationship with the sea.
The city will be the capital of culture next year
Around 3,200 people from 20 countries took part in the project in the Yorkshire city posing at some of the city’s major landmarks.
New York based artist Spencer Tunick created the unusual “installation”, one of the largest events of its kind in the UK.
Mr Tunick said: “The Sea of Hull installation was one of the most fantastic projects I've ever done, and it was inspiring to be able to intertwine the city's maritime heritage against an urban backdrop throughout the whole piece.
Volunteers painted themselves naked in Hull
“The photo incorporates some of the city's unique locations including the architectural steel-structured masterpiece that is Scale Lane Bridge, framed by Georgian and Victorian buildings, adding to the striking shots captured during the installation.
“It's always wonderful to see the various-sized people covered in paint walking through the streets of a city I admire. I'm looking forward to the exhibition of my final works made here in Hull in the spring of 2017.”
The thousands of brave participants were covered with four shades of blue paint on their body.
Models caused heads to turn by posing in a city park, lying across a road and completely taking over a bridge.
To get home, many of the blue models cycled home with a cardboard box protecting their modesty.
Participants stand ready for Spencer Tunick's Sea Of Hull
The volunteers made an amusing sight in Hull
The project was commissioned by Hull’s Ferens Art Galley and will be of the highlights of the gallery when Hull is UK City of Culture next year.
Martin Green, chief executive and director of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, said: “Spencer Tunick is the first major artistic commission to be announced for 2017.
The installation is called
“The team at the Ferens Art Gallery have worked incredibly hard to bring this world-class artist to Hull, adding to the excitement of it being UK City of Culture.
“It's also a fantastic opportunity for people locally and further afield to be involved ahead of 2017 and I can't wait to see the resulting images when they are unveiled at the gallery next year as part of an exciting exhibition.”