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| Iggy Pop at Brooklyn Museum on Feb 21, 2019 |
With his manhood at the center of attention, Iggy Pop pose in his birthday suit for a group of art students in New York. He did this lying down on the podium with the business end in plain view to all. Mr. Pop was asked to pose naked to show the world, and men, in particular, that posing nude is not a woman's prerogative. Even at 68 years of age, a man feels the need for a challenge and posing naked in front of artists may just be the ultimate mental challenge to overcome for some.
Ancient Greek bronze and marble Roman sculptures are to blame for the need for perfect physical appearances throughout the ages. Classical students of the arts intently studied the anatomy of the human body in search of ideal beauty. The human form is the most difficult to render, and what the perfect proportions exactly are has been debated throughout the ages. Bodies without curvature were not interesting and where women would often be sculpted or painted in a horizontal position, men would strike strong poses.
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| Leonardo da Vinci's caricature studies |
I do not understand the infatuation of the fashion world today with Twiggy-like physiques. Early in my art education, I found that I much prefer painting facial or anatomical features that are out of the ordinary. I loved da Vinci’s physiognomy. He made ugly mugs look attractive in all their glorious ugliness. In live model classes, I would complain about the youthful scrawniness of the models, both female and male. I wanted models who showed the years in their features, who had eyes shaped by their trials, and who proudly wore their wrinkles. I like painting men with distinct musculature from sporting or fighting, but my preference goes out to round or robust female models with endless curves and crevices to explore.
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| Curve Heaven at Nude Nite |
So in my artistic view, Mr. Pop certainly qualifies to be most interesting to render, even though he is not a voluptuous lady. The years show on his face, his body has seen rough times, and he dared to go naked in front of younger people. He showed the world that we should celebrate our bodies in all our beautiful ugliness. Apparently, the paintings and drawings will go on tour throughout the United States this fall. I cannot wait to attend the exhibition.
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