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Bare in Basel

Dozens of people took part in a nude "happening" in Basel during the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Swiss city's annual art fair.

Dozens of people took part in a nude “happening” in Basel during the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Swiss city’s annual art fair.

They stripped off near Barfüsserplatz (Bare-footed Square) and arranged themselves in a pattern on the street on Sunday morning.

Behind the event was American photographer Spencer Tunick, who has been arrested for staging similar events in the United States.

The local authorities had granted permission for the Basel happening, which Tunick described as “magnificent”.

He said the models displayed “an open spirit” and it had been a pleasure to work with them. Each received as payment an original photograph by him of the naked tableau.

Basel ART, regarded as the foremost art fair of its kind, attracts gallery owners, collectors, artists, curators and art lovers from all over the world.

This year, some 5,000 works by over 1,000 artists were on display — and for sale.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR