Sending Trump a stark message
More than 100 women pose naked in 'political art' before Republican National Convention
More than 100 women posed naked with mirrors in Cleveland, answering a photographer's call to blend art with politics and portray Donald Trump as unfit for the White House.
They gathered on the eve of the Republican National Convention, where the billionaire will be anointed the party's nominee for president after winning a raucous primary race.
"He is a loser," photographer Spencer Tunick told AFP after the sunrise shoot in which 130 women took part.
The installation took place in sight of the arena where the convention kicked off yesterday.
Entitled "Everything She Says Means Everything", the photo art featured women of all shapes, colours and sizes, holding up mirrors toward the arena.
MIRRORS
Mr Tunick's website said the mirrors reflected "the knowledge and wisdom of progressive women and the concept of 'Mother Nature'... onto the convention center, cityscape and horizon of Cleveland".
But Mr Tunick, who is famous for organising large-scale nude shoots, told AFP he thought it was his most political shoot ever, saying he felt compelled to take action. He said just voting against Trump at the ballot box in November was not enough.
"I have two daughters and a wife," he said. "I can't believe the language and rhetoric of hate against women and minorities coming from the Republican Party."
He said he had to do something to counter "this idiotic thinking".
Morning Robinson, 18, who took part with her mother, said she wanted "to do something a little different" that would enable her to express herself freely before going off to college.
"Republicans have this view of how women should be in society and I just don't agree," she said.
The picture is to be unveiled shortly before the Nov 8 election.
XHAKA GETS PER'S VOTE
Defender Per Mertesacker expects Granit Xhaka to set the tempo from the Arsenal engine room this season and described him as the "perfect signing" for the club.
The 23-year-old, who joined Arsenal in May, captained Borussia Moenchengladbach to fourth place in the Bundesliga last season and also helped Switzerland reach the last 16 of the Euro 2016.
British media reported Xhaka's transfer fee at about £30 million ($53.3m), which would make the midfield enforcer Arsenal's third most expensive signing behind Mesut Ozeil and Alexis Sanchez.
"He's a leader and that is really important, especially in midfield. He has got a very good attitude, is very composed on the ball and contributes a lot," Mertesacker said.
"He is a good passer as well, so he will set the tempo. I am looking forward to how he does it, how composed he will be in training and in the games. He will be the perfect signing for us."
Francis Coquelin, who played 26 league games last campaign, said Arsenal needed to dig deep in big games and must pay closer attention to details in order to push for the title, after finishing second to Leicester City.
"We had a strong season, but it's going to be about details," Coquelin said. "The games all the people expect us to win, we have to win them and respond as well in the big games. I think that's what we've done in the last couple of years so we have to carry on doing this." - Reuters.
KLAVAN SET TO SEAL POOL MOVE
Defender Ragnar Klavan's medical at Liverpool is under way ahead of his £4.2 million ($7.5m) transfer from Augsburg, according to Sky Sports.
The Reds are expected to also pay add-ons for the 30-year-old Estonia captain, who played in both legs of last season's Europa League tie against Liverpool and would become Juergen Klopp's fourth summer signing.
The experienced Estonia international has been brought in as cover for the centre-back spot as Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez both have injuries and Tiago Ilori, who could have been a fall-back option, is heading to the Olympics with Portugal.
Klavan has more than 100 caps and has had four seasons in the Bundesliga.
Klopp sees him as the ideal man to offer back-up and leadership in much the same way as Kolo Toure did before his departure this summer.
The boss has been in the market for a defender with Toure and Martin Skrtel no longer at the club and Sakho set to miss the start of the Premier League season as he recovers from an Achilles injury.
Joel Matip was brought in on a free transfer earlier this summer and started Sunday's friendly at Wigan alongside Dejan Lovren.
Sadio Mane - a £36m signing from Southampton - and German goalkeeper Loris Karius are the other new arrivals at Anfield as Klopp prepares for his first full season in charge. - Wire Services.
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