Body. Ideal, Gaze, Freedom

From the ideals of antiquity to visions of emancipation and freedom. This spring, the Gothenburg Museum of Art presents a major exhibition dedicated to one of art history’s most enduring and fascinating motifs: the human body. Body. Ideal, Gaze, Freedom brings together around one hundred works that explore and challenge historical ideals, examine the role of the model, and reveal the body’s expressive and creative potential. 

The exhibition is a meeting ground for periods, styles, and artistic expressions – from paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints to photography and video art. It offers a sweeping overview of how bodies have been depicted, interpreted, and controlled throughout art history. Most of the works come from the museum’s own collection, featuring artists such as Hanna Pauli, Francis Bacon, and Charlotte Gyllenhammar.

To broaden the presentation, the exhibition also includes significant loans from institutions and private collectors, featuring prominent works by American sculptor Nick Cave and performance artists Ana Mendieta and Hannah Wilke. Contemporary artists such as Ruby Okoro, Sally von Rosen, and Ussi’n Yala contribute new works created in response to the exhibition’s theme.

The exhibition unfolds in three chapters: The Ideal Body. History and Resistance – exploring historical ideals and their lasting influence;  The Posing Body. Gaze and Power – examining the dynamic between artist, model, and viewer; and The Expressive Body. Identity and Liberation – celebrating the body as a site of action, freedom, and artistic experimentation

A richly illustrated catalogue with newly commissioned essays by researchers, artists and writers accompanies the exhibition.