The debate against public nudity as an... artform?

A performer called Bobby from Bollnäs, Sweden has embraced an artform that involves him being nude in the public and it has sparked a huge debate. Most people would say that Bobby should be thrown in jail and that his artform should be banned but some people aren’t so sure. Bobby himself says that he sees no reason for his artform to be banned.

Bobby, a 17-year-old man attending Hälsingegymnasiet, has always, according to his parents, not only been a creative person but also really good at what he does.

He started singing and drawing when he was 2 years old, got into building with Legos when he was 5, started going to a nude portrait classes when he was 8 (where he even modeled) and became the best twerker the local dance club had ever seen when he was 12. Today Bobby is still that creative person that he has always been but some would say his choice of “artform” have gotten a bit more extreme. Today he still expresses himself but a better term would probably be “exposures himself”. As you can probably guess, this has led to a big controversy and started a debate. Is it wrong to be nude in public and could it ever be accepted as an artform?

Bobby is, in his words, an activist and a performer. He says that we humans have made too many exceptions to the rules and freedoms that our ancestors have fought for us to have. He thinks that the freedom of expression has taken a dark turn. A turn that creates a risk for him to no longer have the right to express himself in the way that he would like.

According to an article by the Swedish news site Gefle Dagblade (“Lagligt att vara naken”, 2013) it is legal to be nude in public in Sweden as long as there is no intent of in anyway disturb anyone else in any way, shape or form. Bobby brought this up in a debate last week by saying: - “Har ni inte blängat I regelboken. Att kalla er idioter vore en förolämpning mot alla idioter.” Where he criticizes people for not knowing the actual legal rules around the debate. People still argue that the act is morally wrong and should not be accepted by society even though it is technically legal.

We interviewed Bobby himself to get some insight on his thoughts on the whole controversy, what’s his plans for the future and more.

Why have you chosen to express yourself with this artform and how does it work?

- “Sometimes things don’t need to have an explanation. Sometimes things just feel right you know? Me and this artform kind of just clicked and fit together like a key in a keyhole or a hand in a glove. We fit together better than a fat German kid and Chocolate or a one-night stands and STDs. Preforming gives me a sensation of feeling free. When I preformed I try to be one with the universe. It’s hard to describe but it could be compared to dancing and mediation while moving. Of course, I’m in the nude because I believe that clothes add to the artform and brings me closer to the universe. When people ask me why I do it in public I think that is kind of a stupid question, I’m a performer. A singer or a guitarist would not sit by themselves all the time and sing and/or play, they want to show people their talent and preform. Street performers are now a days a common sight. I preform in the public for the same reason.”

Why do you think people are against your artform?

- “Its unfamiliar and people are not used to it and therefore chose to dislike it. Since the beginning of time humans have tended to avoid things that are unfamiliar. In the time of our ancestors, this meant we were scared of the unknown for the purpose of not doing anything that could be life threatening. In our days, it could mean that your dad would say that your horrible music taste is comparable to the noise of an Italian cat struggling for dear life with explosive diarrhea. In my case it’s that people think I’m weird because I’m the first to really express this artform.”

How many gigs do you normally get?

- “I would say normally around two gigs a week. Most of the time it’s for events. Last week I performed at an all-female birthday party. I would say that women make up the biggest part of my demographic. I would say this is because women are in nature more appreciative of the civilized and professional environment of the art world.

Do you have any future goals?

- “I would like to give more to the world. I think my art has the potential to reach a larger demographic. I would like to preformed and places like children’s hospitals or retirement homes. I would also like to involve more people into preforming my artform. I would like to start a club where people can come and express themself together like the dance club I went to when I was little.”

While it’s not illegal for Bobby to perform his artform it is quite controversial. If society will one day accept it as and artform is hard to tell but all we know is that the debate will go on and Bobby will keep fighting for his right to perform.

Mitt i Smeten ©2020