First there was Monet, whose paintings were so vague and unfinished-looking that one contemporary scornfully dismissed them “impressionist.” Then there was Matisse, whose unorthodox use of color was so brash and offensive that a critic assailed them as the work of a “wild beast,” which in French is fauve.
Is Clayton Pettet next? And if so, what abusive handle will present-day scoffers among the critics attach to his work (assuming there are scoffers)?
A 19-year-old art student announced recently a project that will see him experiencing gay sex for the first time in front of a live audience.
And he says he’s doing it all in the name of ‘art.’
Clayton Pettet hopes his performance project, titled ‘Art School Stole My Virginity,’ will challenge people to reexamine the way they look at human sexuality.
‘The deflowering is set to take place before an audience of between 50 and 100 in a space in Hackney, London,’ the Huffington Post reported.
Pettet and a volunteer plan to do their business in front of a live audience and will hold a Q&A at the close of their performance.
Among the questions likely to be asked: “How was it for you?”
As for scoffers, the proposed “installation” has already generated a few harrumphs from art purists. “I’m not quite sure how that’s art,” Rev. Sharon Ferguson, of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, is quoted as saying.
My view is that we believe that all sexuality is a gift from God. It’s about what you do with it and how we use it is an expression of our love for God. For my imagining in sex as an art form, I don’t think this falls into that category.
My issue is around is this the right expression of someone’s bodily sexuality? As an art project in front of an audience, where is the love, respect and mutuality in that? Stunts like this cheapens our own sexual relationships.
At some point in there, the reverend seems to lose her focus on art. Pettet in any case defends his “work”:
The key thing about performance art is that it should only be performed once, and this is the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime performance. I’ve held on to my virginity for 19 years, and I’m not throwing it away lightly. Basically it’s like I am losing the stigma around virginity. I want the audience to see if anything has changed between me and my partner.
Since culturally we do hold quite a lot of value to the idea of virginity I have decided to use mine and the loss of it to create a piece that I think will stimulate interesting debate and questions regarding the subject.
According to the Blaze article, Pettet, has been planning the performance for roughly three years. And, no, he not told his parents about the project.
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