Henson's school model search 'a mistake'
Posted
Updated
'No comment' ... Henson. (Sunday Arts programme: Sunday Arts)
The head of the Victorian Principals Association has described a decision to let controversial artist Bill Henson look for models at a primary school as a mistake.
In a book by journalist David Marr, Henson said a Melbourne primary school principal agreed to let him enter the playground at lunch-time to search for suitable child models.
Mr Henson's exhibition in March was shut down by police after complaints were received about images of a naked 12-year-old girl.
Principals Association president Fred Ackerman says it is an unfortunate incident and one that would not have happened had the principal and photographer known what the outcome would be.
"I think that what's happened here is something that seemingly is relatively low level and most definitely innocent," he said.
"It has occurred without the thought of how it might be perceived or interpreted by other people at a later date."
Mr Ackerman says he understands why parents would be upset by it.
"Parents would probably be concerned at this stage in as much as they send their children to school with an expectation that the duty of care that teachers and principals provide will be in place," he said.
"I think some parents would be viewing this as a breach, perhaps a relatively small breach, but a breach of that duty of care that the school owes their children."
A spokeswoman for Henson says he has no comment to make about the matter.
