An artist arrested for distributing 3-D data of her art project was arrested, then quickly released earlier this month. Because her art focuses on her vagina, the case has put Japan¡¯s inconsistent obscenity laws into the spotlight once again.
Laws restricting pornographic images that are harmful or dangerous should be enforced, but this case is a clear restriction of the freedom of artistic expression.
The artist, Megumi Igarashi, has made a career out of art based on female genitalia, usually her own. She was arrested not for sending images, but for providing the data from which fans could make a precise model of her vagina using a 3-D printer. In return, she received donations to help complete her latest artwork, based on genitalia-related themes.
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