Artwork
Jim Anderson, Richard Neville and Felix Dennis: The OZ Three, Free !
Jim Anderson, Richard Neville and Felix Dennis: The OZ Three, Free ! is a paint painting by the Contemporary Realist artist Caroline Coon. It dates from 1996 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The nudity wasn’t just shock value; it was a protest against the court’s claim that the magazine corrupted public morals.
You see three naked men at the center of a crowded scene, surrounded by protesters and police in riot gear. Fists are raised, batons swing, and faces twist in anger or fear.
This painting records the 1971 trial of OZ magazine editors for obscenity. The artist was there, she marched, sketched, and later turned those notes into this large canvas. The nudity wasn’t just shock value; it was a protest against the court’s claim that the magazine corrupted public morals.
To see how other artists turned protest into paint, look up the museum: Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This large-scale painting depicts a chaotic scene centered around three naked men, surrounded by protesters and police in riot gear, capturing a moment of intense confrontation.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork commemorates the 1971 trial of OZ magazine editors for obscenity, featuring the defendants at its center and referencing the controversy surrounding the magazine's 'Schoolkids' issue.
Technique & Style
The artist, Caroline Coon, drew on her firsthand experience of the events, using sketches made during the protests as the basis for the composition, which combines elements of history painting and contemporary reportage.
Context
The painting is closely tied to the countercultural movement of the 1960s and 1970s, with the OZ magazine trial serving as a focal point for debates around freedom of expression and censorship.
History & Provenance
The work was commissioned by Felix Dennis, one of the editors of OZ magazine, highlighting the close connection between the artist and the subject matter.
Artist & collection
Artist
Caroline Mary Thompson Coon (born 23 March 1945) is an English artist known for her paintings, feminist political activism, writing, and photography.
