Barely protesting: Solidarity strip for Chinese art freedom

Naked people are funny, they say. But sometimes stripping down to one`s birthday suit is not the outcome of a crazy drunken night but a gesture of┘ solidarity.

╜An army of admirers of China`s most famous artist, the dissident Ai Wei, have posted their nude pictures on a website in a statement to their authorities that "Nudity is not Pornography".

Dozens of supporters of the conceptual artist - over 70 fans - have exposed their blank pictures on a website called "Ai Wei Fans` Nudity - Listen, Chinese Government: Nudity is not Pornography".

Mass nudity has become an outrageous form of protest in a country where a publicly naked body is taboo.

The 54-year-old artist has been accused by the Chinese government of owing back taxes and of late payments. Earlier this month Ai Wei has paid a bond of nearly one million euro, which has been raised by his supporters.

In spring the dissident was detained without charge and held in solitary confinement for nearly three months as part of a government crackdown on dissidents, sparking an international outcry among artists and human rights activists.

Many say he was punished for speaking out about the Communist leadership and social problems in China.

sections: Culture