'What’s the story behind the provocative image? ‘Garden Party’ is the work of art duo The Girls. Here they draw upon the custom of ‘Nyotaimori’, the Japanese practice of eating sushi or sashimi from the naked body of a young woman, said to be favoured by business men and Yakuza gangsters. The Girls invoke a familiar middle class world of cricket lunches and afternoon tea to full effect with their cleverly offhand inclusion of a gender-ambiguous vicar seen casually sipping tea from a dainty china cup. 'Garden Party' challenges viewers to examine their own prurience, and perhaps religious hypocrisy, away from the cosy sentiment of cultural tradition. You can see more of their work at www.thegirls.co.uk'

Reproduced courtesy of Listed Magazine

Date: 01/08/07