‘Naturist Paradises’: A Nudist Exhibit In France Where Visitors Can Go Naked
The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (Mucem) in Marseille, France, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with an exhibition called “Naturist Paradises,” which explores the lifestyle of living naked.
A unique feature of the exhibit is that on certain Tuesdays, visitors can tour the exhibition in the nude.
These nudist visits are organized in collaboration with various naturist organizations.
“Naturist Paradises,” which runs until December 9, explores the history of nudist communities over the past 100 years, focusing particularly on France, the world’s top destination for nudist enthusiasts.
According to Franceinfo, this exhibit is a first for France. It features over 600 photos, films, magazines, paintings, sculptures, and everyday objects that illustrate the history of nudism, from its early communities in the 1920s to the present day.
France, a nudist destination
“Today, France is the world’s top tourist destination for naturists. Its mild climate and access to three seas have allowed the development of genuine naturist communities. Unlike in Switzerland, these communities have few real counterparts elsewhere in Europe, where naturism is often practiced more informally and outside of established groups,” explain the organizers.
Marseille is home to several nudist beaches and naturist communities. As Euronews points out, “Mucem is an ideal venue for the exhibition since France has become a leading country in European nudism. With Marseille on the Mediterranean coast and its often beautiful weather, it’s no wonder that nudism is more common here compared to places like Glasgow.”
Naturism against industrialization
Naturism originated as a counter-culture movement in response to the industrialization and urbanization of the 19th century. It was a way to return to nature amid these economic and social changes. “Naturism is fundamentally a collective practice with the utopian goal of reconnecting with nature, as a reaction to the late 19th-century society marked by urbanization, industrialization, and the pollution it caused,” explains Amélie Lavin, one of the exhibition’s four curators.
Could living naked in a community to connect with nature be the key to happiness and health? That’s one of the questions the exhibition seeks to explore. The exhibit also addresses whether naturism and nudism are the same and examines how France became a “naturist paradise.”
The “Naturist Paradises” exhibition takes you on a journey through the history of pioneering naturist communities, starting in Germany and Switzerland and later spreading to France. It looks at their history and explores how naturism is experienced and practiced today.
The photography exhibition also documents the expansion of nudist communities across Europe and the philosophy of returning to nature.
“Nudism isn’t just a 60s fad,” the museum explains, noting that there is a new interest in nudity in nature, which is connected to the pursuit of healthy, vegetarian diets, natural therapies, meditation, and yoga outdoors.
“These lifestyles, along with the rejection of societal pressures on our bodies, are crucial for understanding the issues in naturism both past and present.”
Published: 23rd August 2024
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