An English art student has drawn international attention after he announced he would lose his virginity in front of a live audience as part of his art school project.

Clayton David Pettet, a student at a London University, has said that he wants to explore the abstract concept of virginity in today’s society.

The concept of virginity has been a topic of intrigue since the birth of humanity – and the loss of virginity is to this day considered an important rite of passage.

Although virginity itself is an abstract idea, the moment the hymen is broken is completely physical, and thus the exact moment of deflowering can be pin-pointed.

For women that is. The loss of male virginity is still more abstract – an undetectable moment in time, does male virginity really exist? If so, can a male ever lose his virginity?

Pettet has announced that he will ‘create the work’ on January 25th next year and that tickets will be given randomly to people who register.

On his Tumblr account the young artists writes that it’s a project he’s been thinking about since he was 16 years old and that he want’s to inject some life into London’s art scene.

The faculty at Pettet’s art school have declared that his proposal is not part of his official course work and they are encouraging his to seek alternative methods of expression.

“Clayton Pettet’s project is not part of his course and has not been endorsed by Central Saint Martins,” program director of fine art, Alex Shady told the Daily Mail. “Staff are discussing with him the implications, both legal and emotional, of the performance and he is exploring the possibility of alternative means of expression.”

OIP Staff