Sir Elton pulls plug on Baltic exhibition

Oct 2 2007 By Chloe Griffiths, The Journal

AN exhibition of photographs from Sir Elton John’s personal collection was yesterday taken off public display at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead just over a week after one of the images was seized by police in a child pornography probe.

The musician has now asked gallery bosses to close the exhibition just nine days after it opened to the public.

Concerned management at the flagship arts centre called in police and a photograph was seized by detectives on September 20, the day before an exhibition of the musician’s private collection was due to go on display at the gallery.

It was among 149 photographs by American photographer Nan Goldin that are owned by Sir Elton and which formed
the Thanksgiving exhibition at the Gateshead arts centre. The rest of the photographs went on display on Friday, September 21 as planned, but the musician has now asked the gallery to cancel the exhibition.

The exhibition had been due to run until January 20 next year.

A Baltic spokesman said last night: “Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art at the request of the Sir Elton John Photography Collection has closed the exhibition, Thanksgiving, by Nan Goldin.

“After the removal of one image from the series it was no longer possible for Baltic to exhibit the collection of works as the artist intended and therefore Baltic is sympathetic to Sir Elton John’s request and supportive of the decision.”

The image, entitled Klara And Edda Belly-dancing, depicts an image of two young girls.

It is still being examined by Northumbria Police to see if it breaches pornography legislation.

Curator of the singer’s photographic collection Jane Jackson yesterday posted a statement on Elton John’s official website.

It read: “We have made arrangements to close the Thanksgiving Installation at The Baltic with immediate effect.

“It was always intended that the Installation be exhibited as a whole, and not on a piecemeal basis, and our decision has been made with regard to the artistic integrity of the work and the artist.”

A Northumbria Police spokesman said at the time of the seizure “We attended the Baltic last Thursday at the invitation of management who were seeking advice about an item from an exhibition prior to it going on public display.

“This item is being assessed and Northumbria Police in consultation with the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) is investigating the circumstances surrounding it.”