The naked truth about Plymouth

LONDON (Reuters) -- A photographer received an overwhelming response in Plymouth when he asked people to pose naked to show the hidden side of the southwest English city.

Photographer Jojo Moreschi, 35, spent a year taking 100 pictures that are to be displayed in an exhibition at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery.

Moreschi's models -- from the local potter to retired lecturers -- wrote a short commentary about living in the city alongside their photographs.

"It was really surprising the number of people who seemed quite happy to participate," Museums exhibitions officer Martin Thomas told Reuters.

He said the fact that nude models were ordinary people of all ages and both sexes made the project different.

"It's a reasonable balance with an equal number of men and women," Thomas added. "Very often nude photographs are by men of women."

Moreschi said he was inspired by his wish to learn more about the hidden side of his home city.

"I discovered that there is a really colorful, vibrant sub-culture here that I never knew existed," he told BBC.

One of the photographs shows a nude golfer and another a family of three generations sitting naked on a sofa.

Moreschi received hundreds of calls after explaining his project in a local newspaper and few models refused to pose at the last minute.

The full exhibition in the City Museum will take place next year, from July to September.

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