MONTEGO BAY, St James

A potentially contentious nude sculpture by well-known artist, Basil Watson is expected to enhance the international appeal of the century-old Doctor’s Cave Beach in this north coast resort city, its management said.

The life-size bronze scuplture, which was unveiled at the beach’s 100th anniversary celebrations this month, depicts a naked man balancing a nude woman above his head in the palm of his hand.

Anticipating objection from some beachgoers who might be offended, Doctor’s Cave asked Watson to tone down the original sculpture, said general manager, John McDonald.

“It was toned down…we had thought of putting on him a little Speedo (swim trunks) but then we thought no,” he said.

McDonald pointed out that bronze nudes had become the focal point for many beach patrons, especially the cruise ship passengers who come in droves on Wednesdays and Thursdays, to cavort in the warm blue waters of the world-famous Doctor’s Cave Beach or laze away on its sun-kissed white sands.

McDonald explained that although the work of art was incongruent with the beach’s regulations against nude or topless bathing, it had met with the approval of the entire management committee.

The sculpture was expected to stir controversy, similar to the nude couple outside the gates of the Emancipation Park in the capital, Kingston, in view of the 1927 Obscene Publication (Suppression of) Act of Jamaica.

The Act states that “any person who for purposes of or by way of trade or for distribution or public exhibition makes or produces or has in his possession any obscene writings, drawings, prints, paintings, printed matter, pictures posters emblems…… shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall upon summary conviction before a resident magistrate be liable to penalty not exceeding $40 and in default of payment to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three months”.

But president of the guild of artists, Sharon Fox-Mould, scoffed at the idea that Balance could be considered obscene.

“No culture has ever embraced the nude figure as obscene,” she argued. “If you look in history, art depicting the nude form has almost, always appeared. It’s a human fascination.”

Noting that the law, while outdated, was still relevant, Public Defender Earl Witter said the legislation – enacted during the Victorian era – must have been a reaction to what was considered obscene at the time.

According to Witter, since the Interpretation Act does not define obscenity, the relevant definition for legal purposes was the intended ordinary English usage: ‘against accepted sexual morality’.

“It would depend on how the courts construe obscenity…the law is dynamic and we are well past the Victorian era, well past 1927,” he said.

Fox-Mould said the act had never posed any problems for local artists who produce nudes, including the likes of Kay Sullivan, Viv Logan, Carolyn Graham and Marie Sculley who have never had any problems.

“It is not so much a legal matter but a matter of people’s sensitivity,” she explained. “They are sensitive and so the sculptor for them becomes obscene.”

Sullivan told the Observer West that the Jamaican public had always been appreciative and very understanding of art.

“There are people who don’t particularly like some sculptures but nothing of the extent to take them down.”

Nude depictions in public places have not always been as uncontroversial as Fox-Mould made out however. Laura Facey Cooper’s Redemption Song at Emancipation Park, is currently the subject of a petition to have it removed from the park while the carvings of men with exaggerated penises along the Fern Gully in St Ann have proved particularly offensive to some sections of the public. However, according to Dr Alfred Sangster who is heading the petition to debunk Redemption Song, some art is just inappropriate and offensive.

“I still don’t go to any function at the Emancipation Park,” he said. “And many people are still committed to having it removed…it’s pornographic…”It has no real spirit, just two people looking up vacuously into the sky with blatant sex organs close together. It does not portray emancipation.”

In contrast he said nudes can depict true art and had praises for Watson who he said has done very artistic nudes.

In the meantime, the management of the Doctor’s Cave Beach Club says it has no intention of relaxing its rules on nudity.