Kinsey Institute gallery displays animal imagery in erotic art

The Kinsey Institute invites all to view its current gallery show, "Passionate Creatures," which focuses on animal imagery in art. The gallery is filled with paintings, sculptures, drawings and artifacts spanning more than 2,000 years, all encompassing this specific imagery and displaying its many different interpretations.\nCatherine Johnson-Roehr, curator of art, artifacts and photographs, said the concept of animal imagery is as universal as erotic art. Besides the 2,000 year range of art, the gallery features pieces from China, Japan, Persia, Bali, many European countries and, hitting home, Bloomington. Animal imagery is everywhere.\n"It's not specifically about bestiality," Johnson-Roehr said, bringing attention to what she feels could be a common misconception. "It is, however, an adult show."\nIn some of the artwork, animals are direct participants in the sexual act. Others show animals as spectators or engaged in their own intimacy mirroring human couples in the art. "Julie et St. Preux" by 19th century French artist Charles Chaplin is one of the more modest pieces that shows a human couple displaying their affection and a chicken couple following its example, or perhaps "egging them on," Johnson-Roehr explained. \nThe Renaissance, Johnson-Roehr said, brought about a rediscovery of the nude in art. While this might not directly affect animal imagery, this important movement does make all the portraits in the Kinsey gallery less controversial.\nAll of the pieces have obvious similarities and interesting differences. They are erotic in nature and maintain value as artwork, Johnson-Roehr said. Regardless of content, the paintings, drawings and all other forms of art in the gallery are very similar to something one might see in any other gallery or museum. In Kinsey's gallery, however, nudity and erotica are more common than elsewhere. Within the gallery, the emphasis of "sex," the meanings, animal representation and styles vary from piece to piece.\nThe artifacts in the gallery also show the many interpretations of animal imagery and bring light to the humor found in many of the Institute's pieces. Suggestive coffee mugs and plush "Weenie Babies" toys might conjure a laugh, as they're meant to be humourous. And while some pieces such as the "Flying Phallus" might seem bizarre, a winged penis was believed to bring protection to a home during the height of the Roman \nEmpire.\nFurther displaying how prevalent animal imagery is, Johnson-Roehr pointed out the famous portrait of a woman in a bunny suit. This is the image that gave Hugh Hefner the idea for the "Playboy Bunny," a symbol many might be familiar with.\nAnimal imagery has many different meanings and interpretations, and the gallery attempts to display as many as possible. From humor to mythology, the Kinsey Gallery is able to bring many different genres of art under this theme.\nThe Kinsey Institute is located in Morrison Hall, behind Memorial Hall on Third Street. The gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those interested should call the gallery at 855-7686 to schedule a visit. Tours are about one hour long, and "Passionate Creatures" will run through Dec. 23.