Woolies cops backlash for nude photo ban blocking Spencer Tunick

Image: People painted shades of blue and green for a recent Spencer Tunick work in London.

Melbourne is in the midst of a global artistic dispute because Woolworths doesn’t want thousands of naked people in its car park.

It’s 17 years since New York photographer Spencer Tunick staged an iconic mass nude photograph of 4000 bare bodies on Princes Bridge.

Tunick last month told Ross and John he’s coming back to do a shoot in Prahran’s famous Chapel Street.

But it’s since been revealed the intended location, the rooftop car park at Woolworths, won’t be made available.

Woolworths says it would be too disruptive and deny car parking to customers.

The Chapel Street Precinct Association is so angry at the decision it has started a petition.

Spokesperson John Lotton, who has already stripped off for testing, told Ross and John the car park only hosts a small handful of cars at the early hour of the photo shoot.

“We weren’t going to have detrimental effect on their customers,” he said.

“We’re more than happy to provide suitable nearby car parking … so the 10,000 people who have registered can be in Spencer’s hero work.”

Ross and John reckon Woolworths might have other reasons to stop the shoot

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