This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-23143913

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
SO Festival underpants artwork dropped SO Festival sperm whale photo ban over 'sexual' title
(about 3 hours later)
An image of a man sipping wine in his underpants is among several withdrawn from a Lincolnshire arts festival after concerns were raised by organisers. Photographs have been withdrawn from an arts festival after the organisers objected to an image of a sperm whale with a "sexual" title.
The SO Festival, which features street art, including gigantic inflatables and roaming dinosaurs, takes place in Skegness and other local towns. The work by photographer John Byford was due to be projected on to buildings in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, as part of the SO Festival.
Photographer John Byford's work was due to shown as part of a display in Horncastle. The organisers said they did not object to all of the images - including one of a man drinking wine in his underpants.
But organisers said some of the work was unsuitable. But they said the title of the whale photo was not suitable for families.
Mr Byford said: "He's sitting there in his underpants - in a rather unusual position - but you know he is enjoying himself and he is doing what we all do. Mr Byford said he withdrew all of his photographs from the exhibition after meeting organisers.
"That's life and that's what I do - capture life." Festival director Robin Morley said: "Both myself and East Lindsey District Council did not have an issue with the image of the man in his underpants.
Provoke reaction
The Skegness artist said he had grown up on the coast and his work was inspired by saucy postcards, once popular with visitors.
Mr Byford added: "I think that's what we are missing in society - we are so wrapped up in cotton wool when I do stuff like this it does provoke a reaction - but usually it's a smile or a laugh."
Festival organiser Robin Morley said: "Both myself and East Lindsey District Council did not have an issue with the image of the man in his underpants.
"However, we did have an issue with the image of two very young boys looking into the mouth of a dead sperm whale.""However, we did have an issue with the image of two very young boys looking into the mouth of a dead sperm whale."
He said the title of the photo had "very strong sexual connotations" which would not be fitting to put in front of a family audience. The title of the piece was an innuendo containing the word sperm.
'Appropriate to audience' Saucy postcard inspiration
Mr Morley added: "We had a conversation with John about whether some of his images were appropriate and as he was not prepared to replace them, I had no choice but to withdraw the installation from the event. Mr Morley added: "When we saw the work, we thought the combination of the image and the title could be interpreted in several ways, some of which had very strong sexual connotations which would not be fitting to put in front of a family audience.
"It is not about censorship or banning art, it is about displaying artwork that is appropriate to the audience that will see it." "This situation is not about censorship or banning art, it is about displaying artwork that is appropriate to the audience that will see it."
Mr Byford said it was up to people to make their own minds up - it was not for the council and the organisers to ban them. Mr Byford, from Skegness, said he had grown up on the coast and his work was inspired by saucy postcards, once popular with visitors.
Mr Byford said: "I think that's what we are missing in society - we are so wrapped up in cotton wool when I do stuff like this it does provoke a reaction - but usually it's a smile or a laugh."
"That's life and that's what I do - capture life."
He said it was up to people to make their own minds up - it was not for the council and the organisers to ban his images.
"If you have the image on its own it means nothing - if you have the title on its own it means nothing - but the two combined makes a piece of art."If you have the image on its own it means nothing - if you have the title on its own it means nothing - but the two combined makes a piece of art.
"The two go hand in hand," he added."The two go hand in hand," he added.
He said the whale image was previously been seen by about 8,000 people in Skegness without a single complaint. He said the whale image was previously seen by about 8,000 people in Skegness without a single complaint.
This year's SO Festival runs from 28 June to 7 July.This year's SO Festival runs from 28 June to 7 July.