|
|
Elton removes his photo collection from gallery amid child porn concerns
Tuesday, October 2 2007 |
A British gallery that turned over a photograph belonging to Elton John to police amid concerns that it amounted to child pornography has now closed an exhibition featuring the star's photographic collection.
The Baltic Center for Contemporary Art, in Gateshead, northeastern England, said it closed "Thanksgiving," an installation of 149 pictures by American photographer Nan Goldin, at Elton's request.
"After the removal of one image from the series it was no longer possible for Baltic to exhibit the collection of works as the artist intended," the gallery said in a statement. "Therefore Baltic is sympathetic to Sir Elton John's request and supportive of the decision."
The gallery alerted police to one of the "Thanksgiving" pictures on September 20, 2007, and authorities are investigating whether it violates Britain's child pornography laws. Police confirmed they were looking at the picture to assess whether an offense had been committed, but have refused further comment.
Elton, who purchased the "Thanksgiving" installation in 1999, said that the picture "Klara and Edda Belly-Dancing" had been exhibited across Europe and the United States without any objections of which he was aware.
Elton defends photo seized in porn probe Wednesday, September 26 2007 at 18:16:40 Seized 'art porn' owned by Elton John Wednesday, September 26 2007 at 10:09:05
Back to Headlines
|