Nude photos in Forbidden City spark controversy

Source:Global Times Published: 2015-6-1 0:08:02

A series of photos showing a nude model riding on a stone tablet head of a hornless dragon in the Forbidden City has triggered controversy.

Many Net users criticized the "art" for tarnishing the solemnity of the Forbidden City and challenging public morals and customs. But the photographer, Wang Dong, said that it is natural to take human body pictures at tourist attractions, news website guancha.cn reported Friday.

 "I do not intend to deliberately defame any culture or civilization," Wang said in an interview with the news site.

Wang is a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing and now studies landscaping in the US. He is known for human body photography.

Photos of the nude female model were first posted on Wang's Weibo on May 17. Aside from riding on the stone tablet, the woman was also seen alone, posing for pictures in the Forbidden City.

Officials of the Forbidden City were not available for comment as of press time.

Some Net users said it is justified to shoot those pictures on the beach or house, but insults the historical significance of the Forbidden City. Some claimed that they called the police.

Responding to potential legal action, Wang insisted that he has his own standards and that different countries have different legal systems.

Wang added that he made his creations and they did not affect anybody else. "It is ridiculous to see some people accusing me of offending them."



Posted in: Society

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