Saunateema lõpp praeguseks: osa Austraalias ilmunud artikleid

Brisbane Times
Hot bodies exposed for art's sake
Courtney Trenwith
September 6, 2010


Nude sauna.

Pushing the boundaries ... Art Container's nude sauna. Photo: Courtney Trenwith

A transparent sauna is attracting some steamy attention in a Brisbane laneway.

Five Estonian artists are urging the public to strip down and join them in their ancient tradition.

The group has brought a specially-designed sauna from Europe as part of Brisbane Festival's Under the Radar program, which provides a platform for independent artists.

Inside the 60+ degree box, participants in the Art Container performance share stories about their lives and experiences - in full view of on-lookers.

Despite controversially being asked to move the event from King George Square to the more discreet location behind Edward Street, organisers are confident the community will embrace the performance art.

People in numerous European countries have been baking in public saunas for more than 4000 years and the original custom demanded bare bodies.

One of the Estonians, Sandra Jogeva, said the activity was "socially neutralising".

Stripped of clothes or accessories, there was nothing to indicate a person's social status.

"It's about equality," Ms Jogeva said. "Formal signs of belonging somewhere in society don't apply so much anymore."

Fellow artist Erik Alalooga has even completed a post-graduate thesis on the tradition.

"[A sauna] is a very sacred place," he said. "Babies were born in saunas, people were washed and prepared for burial in saunas.

"There are very huge, complex rules and taboos about what we can do and what's prohibited [in a sauna]. People followed those rules quite strictly."

Mr Alalooga said the group had performed in the United States and Latvia and wanted to test the relatively prudish Australian society.

"It's not a big challenge [to take the sauna performance to] Finland because sauna tradition is big there, it's not unusual," Mr Alalooga said.

"But in Australia there are cultural differences, it gives an extra point of view to this project."

Mr Alalooga said those who were not convinced to join in the project could "just walk away, if they don't like it".

"It would be sad if there's nobody, absolutely zero," he said.

Under the Radar producer Britt Guy is confident Brisbane will not only support but join in the project.

"The artist community is really excited about it. We don't really have work that pushes the boundaries enough in Brisbane," Ms Guy said.

"I think the audience that will choose to attend will be really excited and interested in the concept.

"It's experimental from an artist's perspective because it's really challenging that concept of art because it's asking the public to participate in it.

"In the sauna, [the artists] will share stories and so will the public so it'll be an interesting experience."

Ian McKeague, who attended last night's opening with his wife and daughter, said he supported the project but wouldn't be stripping down in front of his daughter.

"That's the way they do it over there, what's wrong with it? It's normal," Mr McKeague said.

"[But I won't be stripped down] with my daughter here. But that's okay, that's our tradition, too."

His daughter, Kate, who works for Brisbane Festival, was considering joining in, but only after her parents had left.

"I think it's amazing," Ms McKeauge said. "It's interesting work, we don't see performance like this in Brisbane at all really. It's really exciting and I think it's important to put Brisbane on the map."

Friends Trudy and Mary were embraced the idea being brought to Australia, albeit from their stools in the audience.

"If they were moved from King George Square because of nakedness, I think that's a farce in this day and age," said Trudy, who did not want her surname published.

"I'm married to a Finn, I'm used to the sauna. [But] at my age I would wear a towel."

Mary said it was perfectly normal to be naked in a public sauna.

The free sauna performance will continue until Wednesday from 6pm to midnight.

6 comments so far

I will not be participating.
pure health - September 06, 2010, 10:11AM

I did this yesterday! It's incredible - it's a *free sauna* for goodness sake, which is even better considering how cold and rainy it was last night. You're not really as exposed as you fear you are - it can be a little awkward, especially since the back court of Metro Arts obviously wasn't designed with a spa in mind, but what a great escape. can this be permanent? :D

I wrote about my experiences for the Critical Mass blog: http://criticalmassblog.net/?p=421
Tiara the Merch Girl | Brisbane - September 06, 2010, 11:38AM

Australian society has been following the US path where we condone nudity and accept violence. It's great to see that we are following a more European style with this art display where nudity is considered a natural good thing.
Nate | Brisbane - September 06, 2010, 1:31PM

Interesting that many people are comfortable with showing their gear to the general public, but not their own family. What's going on here? Is it that we pretend to our parents and children that we're not sexual beings? If so, why? I'm not totally immune; I remember my embarrassment at hearing my parents doing it. And it's not uncommon to see teenagers doing the 'la-la-la' and covering their ears if their parents happen to drop some remark about having sex. The sexual revolution was supposed to have happened over 40 years ago. What went awry?
HarryZyx | Arana Hills - September 06, 2010, 2:39PM

A nice idea. I agree with Nate – give me Euro-style nudity instead of violence any day. I'm in Melbourne, and as a show of support I'm taking my clothes off now (sorry, neighbouring cubicle dweller).
Disco Bob | (Cold) Melbourne - September 06, 2010, 2:55PM

I'm from Finland and it's the most natural thing to go to sauna naked. We used to go all family together and it's great. There is nothing to be ashamed, there is nothing sexual , it's a family thing. We should have more saunas here in Australia.
Tuija | Eagleby - September 06, 2010, 9:52PM




Ja kuna tundub, et ülejäänud kahte, mille lingid mul on, ei saa siia kopeerida, panen ainult lingid:

http://criticalmassblog.net/?p=426

http://criticalmassblog.net/?p=421