POLICE are investigating an artist over nude photographs of 11-year-old boys set to be exhibited in Melbourne tonight.
Artist Victoria Larielle is exhibiting the collection in protest against the recent censorship of Bill Henson's work.
Police spokeswoman Marika Fengler today said police were investigating the matter but early observations suggested the works were not pornographic.
"Yes, we will look into it. However, what we've seen at this stage gives us no reason for concern," she said.
Ms Fengler said child pornography was classified under the Crimes Act as a photo that depicts a minor either engaged in sexual activity or in an indecent sexual manner or context.
"That doesn't seem to fall into that category. However, we will be attending and looking into it."
The collection includes 30-40 photographs of two 11-year-old boys, who are now aged 17, and who gave their consent.
One photograph shows a full body shot of a naked boy lying on the ground on his side in the fetal position.
Another is a frontal shot of a child's face and naked chest.
The photographs were taken in three separate shoots in 2001 and will be exhibited for the first time tonight at The Loop bar in Melbourne's CBD.
Larielle said she decided only a week ago to exhibit the images publicly, a decision spurred by the furore surrounding Henson's Sydney exhibition from which police last month seized 20 photographs of a naked adolescent girl and boy.
Source : http://www.news.com.au/
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