Page One: Gallery refuses to move image away from window
An exhibition of work by the late photographer Bob Carlos Clarke, called Full Throttle, has sparked a visit by police after locals branded the Chelsea show ?pornographic?.
WARNING: PLEASE DO NOT VIEW THIS IMAGE IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE OFFENDED
Police were called to the Little Black Gallery near King?s Road in London yesterday, a spokesman for the gallery told Amateur Photographer.
Local residents are apparently up in arms that ‘pornographic’ images from the show are displayed in the window of the gallery and can be seen from the road outside.
‘Police were following up complaints – people have complained to the council,’ said the spokesman.
Police have warned the gallery, via a subsequent email, that it may be in breach of the Public Order Act and pointed out that the gallery is close to a primary school.
The gallery has not been charged with an offence.
Among the controversial images is ‘Tite Street’ which is displayed on a wall of the gallery, but can be seen from the window.
‘They [the police] advised us to move Tite Street [away from the window] but we are not,’ added the spokesman who denied that the move was a publicity stunt.
The gallery has placed a sign on the front door and warned that under 18s should not visit the exhibition unaccompanied.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman told Amateur Photographer: ‘I can confirm that officers at Kensington and Chelsea received a complaint from a third party.’
He added: ‘An officer attended the gallery yesterday offering words of advice.’
The police spokesman said that no arrests were made and no-one has been charged with any offence.
The gallery, which is largely dedicated to the work of Bob Carlos Clarke, opened in 2008.
It was set up by Bob’s wife Lindsey, his friend Tamara Beckwith and Ghislain Pascal, the photographer’s agent and manager of his estate.
The gallery serves as the base for the Bob Carlos Clarke Foundation, which was set up to help young photographers after Bob’s untimely death.
Bob Carlos Clarke took his own life in March 2006, aged 55.
Full Throttle is on at The Little Black Gallery until 5 June.
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Page Two: WARNING: PLEASE DO NOT VIEW THIS IMAGE IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE OFFENDED
Picture credit: The Estate of Bob Carlos Clarke
CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ARTICLES ABOUT BOB CARLOS CLARKE
Page Three: The email the gallery says it received from police
This is an email the gallery says it received from a police inspector yesterday:
‘I write further to my visit earlier today.
As discussed, the RBK&C [Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) council have received a complaint concerning what is perceived to be pornographic images in the window of the gallery.
Most of your pictures are not clearly visible unless you either enter the gallery or look carefully through the window.
However, there are two large images in the windows that can be clearly seen by passing pedestrians; ‘Whip girl’ and ‘Tite Street’.
My assessment is that ‘Whip girl’ is acceptable but I have some concerns about ‘Tite Street’.
‘Tite Street’ appears to show a man having rear entry sex with a woman who is bent double and not wearing any knickers. Of course, this is not the appropriate place to have a debate about art verses pornography.
It is my assessment that ‘Tite Street’ should not able to be clearly viewed from the street. I strongly advise that ‘Tite Street’ is moved.
You have accepted that the exhibition has generated several complaints, albeit mostly anonymous.
You need to take into consideration your location which is close to a primary school.
At this exact time no crime has been recorded. I do however need to point out that you might be committing an offence under Section 4A or Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.
I note your actions to reduce any offence caused by not allowing unaccompanied under 18’s and placing a sign on the front door.’
WARNING: PLEASE DO NOT VIEW THIS IMAGE IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE OFFENDED
