Did Spencer Tunick Shoot Nude Playboy Logo Ad?

Playboy's entire office is moving to LA by May 2012. Created in 1953, Playboy has always been based in Chicago, Hugh Hefner's birthplace. Previously, only the company's publishing team was making the move.

It seems that Playboy has a thing for beaches, expressed in their new ad posted on The Gloss. No photographer credit is given and it may well just be a digital manipulation of many naked women into the Playboy logo, but the style is certainly that of American artist Spencer Tunick, who famously lensed about 5,200 naked people at Sydney's iconic Opera House in 2010.

Google searches about the ad are coming up empty, which is just another example of the digital world moving ahead of Playboy marketing and Publishing execs. Major websites are starting to drive conversation around the ad, and Playboy is mum. Perhaps Hef's team is busy packing boxes, preparing for the big move and unable to multitask.

Bring in the women Hef. Playboy's most recent PR disaster was the early release of the Lindsay Lohan Marilyn Monroe photos by Yu Tsai.

Spencer Tunick's Nude Installations

Spencer Tunick | 5200 Naked People Make Art in Sydney AOC Body

The Gloss expresses a dislike of the Playboy ad -- or a feeling of discomfort -- reflecting that the women look like ants. This quality pervades most of Tunick's work. The controversial photographer has been arrested countless times, hosting installations around the world.

Writing about the Sydney event, Anne said:

Straight and gay participants — including one pregnant woman who postponed her C-section by hours to join the event — expressed the nonsexual nature of the event, while emphasizing its ‘tribal’, humanist vibe.

‘Tribal’ is a bit like ‘sensual’ in that the word implies ‘natural’ which is forbidden and disgusting, according to the patriarchy. The sometimes naked Indians of America and the Latin American women who greeted Columbus with flowers had to be ‘civilized’ by religion — as an example.

In particular, this loathing of the human body and our physicality has haunted — and I argue militarized —  societies in its path.

The Israelis -- who are having massive social conservatives issues of their own with modestly-dressed, eight-year-old girls being called 'prostitutes' on their way to school -- used Tunick for a uniquely ambitious photographic project in late 2011.

Spencer Tunick @ Dead Sea

It was Tunick's first Middle East mass shoot, one produced -- finally-- in concert with the Israeli office of tourism. Israel sought to draw attention to the Dead Sea -- scene of the Israeli Tunick event -- drawing attention to its competition to find the new Seven Wonders of the World.  A finalist among 27 from an original 440, the Dead Sea images didn't make the final cut, although it was in the top 10.

Following the story, it's interesting to note that Ari Fruchter sponsored the Naked Sea - Spencer Tunick Dead Sea Installation by Ari Fruchter on Kickstarter. The nature of Spencer Tunick's photography made it almost impossible to get funding for a project photographing naked people.

With an initial goal of $60,000, 706 backers helped raise $116,270. Outlining the plan, Ari Fruchter wrote:

The installation will take place at the Dead Sea - the lowest place on earth and one of the most naturally picturesque spots on our planet. It is a body of water that unites 3 different people – Israelis, Jordanians, and Palestinians. Being a sea that is literally dead, nothing can live nor grow in it. Sadly, it is disappearing. The water level and shore line has been diminishing every year. By bringing Spencer Tunick to the Dead Sea I am hoping to bring back life – showcasing the importance of water in this region and creating art that is a celebration of humanity that brings world attention to the disappearing Dead Sea.

The Naked Sea project touched so many of the 'trival' and religious hostilities in the region, and the all-consuming lynchpin of religion and shame over the human body. We share images from the Spencer Tunick 'Naked Dead Sea' installation, from the Israel Tourist Board. Clearly, the project gained momentum.

A full-blown art gallery presentation is in the works.