VISITORS are being invited to have sex on a piece of art in a new exhibition at a former Marylebone church.
Artist Jota Castro has installed a giant black cross-shaped bed in a red-lit basement as part of the Club 21 – Remaking the Scene exhibition at the One Marylebone gallery on Marylebone Road.
The former Peruvian diplomat says the piece of work is an invite for people to step away from being art voyeurs by “making love on it”.
The installation, called Sweet Mama Are You Happy With My Sweet Love, is a continuation of Mr Castro’s Love Hotel shown in Paris in 2003 which invited people to lie down on the work.
Mr Castro, who left a career working for the United Nations and European Union to devote himself to the art world, said: “What is paramount is that both installations do not exist as a work of art without the participation of the public.
“They live because the people give them life.
“Generally spectators are voyeurs. With this installation, spectators can also be actors.”
The free exhibition opens to the public tomorrow and runs until October 23.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here