Bare facts: Spencer Tunick’s photos expose Dead Sea plight
Artist famous for nude installations helps raise awareness of sinkholes around lowest point on earth
Francine Wolfisz is the Features Editor for Jewish News.
Artist Spencer Tunick has helped raise awareness of the environmental impact on the Dead Sea by organising a nude photoshoot.
The American-Jewish photographer, known for his large-scale works featuring naked volunteers, revealed his latest project involving 15 men and women focuses on the growing danger of sinkholes around the Dead Sea.
In recent decades, scientists have become increasingly concerned, noting the lowest land point on earth is in fact shrinking.
Tunick, whose most recent art installation featured 100 naked women protesting against Donald Trump, said: “I care deeply about the future of the Dead Sea and hope that my presence and involvement here can propel the Israeli government and local activists to take real measurable action to save [it].
“I’ve been on the ground and as you can all see, this is a disaster.”
Dr Lipchin, director of the Center for Transboundary Water Management at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, said: “The Dead Sea we once knew doesn’t exist anymore.
“The harm that has been done on all environmental levels has caused damages that are partly irreversible, and for those that still can be fixed – the window of opportunity is narrow and will soon be closed.”
Meanwhile, Yael Faran, Member of Parliament and head of the lobby for the Dead Sea, said: “Israel must take responsibility for the destruction of nature over the years and there is an opportunity for co-operation between countries in the region.”
Click here for the making of Spencer Tunick’s Dead Sea photoshoot
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
