Controversial art exhibition opens today

A controversial erotic art exhibition at a gallery near Wellington opens to the public today.

The exhibition, called "Group Sex", at Paekakariki's One Eye Gallery proved very popular at a preview on Sunday night.

The gallery's curator, Gary Freemantle, says the gallery was full for the preview despite calls for the show to have an R18 restriction.

Mr Freemantle says he hopes the artistic worth of the works will not be overshadowed by the topic.

However, leader of the Christian Heritage Party Graham Capill says he is concerned that some of the pieces show genitalia.

He wants to know why art galleries insist on exhibiting "this sort of rubbish".

Mr Capill plans to view the exhibition himself to see whether he will campaign against it.

- IRN