Although it hasn’t even opened yet, Bill Henson’s new show at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery is already making headlines after invitations featuring a sweaty bare-chested teenage boy were sent out this week.
Only four years ago, police raided and seized up to 21 of Henson’s photographs at the same gallery, shortly before the exhibition was to open to the general public, sparking a vigorous debate about the sexualisation of children and censorship across Australia. Even Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made statements to the media labelling Henson’s portraits as ‘revolting’. But no charges were laid against Henson following recommendations of the NSW Department of Public Prosecutions, and the images in question were returned to the gallery and given a PG rating by the Australian Classification Board.