Photographer uses technology to sidestep nude censorship

Photographer Jeff Crawford, an artist who specializes in nudes, was invited to contribute work to an exhibit sponsored by the Fredericton Arts Alliance in Fredericton, New Brunswick ; the photos were to be shown in Fredericton city hall.

Fredericton city hall. Image by Chris Campbell / CC BY 2.0

The photograph that Crawford submitted was on display for only a day a half before officials removed it due to complaints about the nudity present in the image. When asked to replace the piece with a different photograph, Crawford supplied an image of an enlarged QR code – a bar-code image that smartphones can read – which viewers first mistook for abstract art. When visitors use their phones to read the code, however, they will see Crawford’s uncensored work. The piece will remain on display, but officials are considering introducing some guidelines for future exhibitions.

Read more: cbc.ca