These artists at the New York Academy of Art last Sunday are hardly the only people who have seen Iggy Pop‘s privates. The noted exhibitionist has been performing in see-through pants and posing nude on book covers since before some of them were even born. That was part of the reason artist Jeremy Deller wanted Iggy to play model for his latest project, which isn’t just a life drawing class but a corresponding (and equally NSFW) exhibition. The works, sketched by a diverse group of 21 New York artists, will be shown as “Iggy Pop Life Class” at the Brooklyn Museum before going on tour.
“The life class is a special place in which to scrutinize the human form,” Deller said of this stark contrast between stage and classroom. “As the bedrock of art education and art history, it is still the best way to understand the body. For me it makes perfect sense for Iggy Pop to be the subject of a life class; his body is central to an understanding of rock music and its place within American culture. His body has witnessed much and should be documented.”
Deller devised the class and exhibition in collaboration with the Brooklyn Museum. “Iggy Pop Life Class” is slated to open in fall 2016, but that’s not the only project punk rock’s O.G. provocateur has in the pipe this year. His 17th solo album, titled Post Pop Depression and due out March 18, will be a collaboration with Josh Homme. An upcoming silent film with fellow nonconformist Grace Jones also sounds sounds well worth keeping an eye on.
Credits
Text Hannah Ongley
Portrait Ricardo Toscani