Art form claim for body-piercing

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 26

Art form claim for body-piercing

PA Wellington Body-piercing is an art form inseparable from mankind’s free spirit, according to a submission made to • the Indecent Publications Tribunal in Wellington.

The submission related to five issues of the magazine, "Piercing Fans International Quarterly,” and was from the importer, Mr S. L. Graham. In his submission, Mr Graham said body-pierc-ing — the process of making holes in the body for decorative and other purposes — had a long history and was a “legitimate part of mankind’s

past and present.” “The magazine does have some articles concerning the modifying of the body by stretching or cutting, but the bulk of the content concerns safe and hygienic piercing for jewellery,” he said. :■ Nipple-piercing was prevalent in the magazine because this practice could heighten sensitivity of the nipples. “The importance of these magazines is to be found largely in their medical information, which is enhanced by the accompanying photos,” he said.

“The photos may instantly seem to be rather

horrifying but it is to be remembered how much misinformation would creep in if they were to be replaced by words or drawings.”

Mr Michael Wotherspoon, for the Comptroller of Customs, said some of the illustrations might induce experiments resulting in “physical or even fatal injury.”

In . its decisions on earlier issues of the magazine the tribunal had said that they had no artistic merit and were clearly injurious to the public good, he said.

The tribunal reserved decision.