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A Grand Exploration of the Human Body at the Gothenburg Museum of Art
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 opens on Saturday, 7 March.
– The body is a timeless motif that has captivated artists and audiences for millennia. This exhibition reflects today’s intense discussions about identity and representation, offering a more joyful perspective on a subject often burdened by ideals, demands and limitations. It also opens new ways of seeing and interpreting the museum’s rich collection, says Patrik Steorn, Museum Director.
A Dialogue Between Eras
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 an extensive 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.
– We are excited to showcase rarely seen treasures from the collection in dialogue with contemporary works and recent acquisitions. For example, visitors will begin their journey among monumental marble sculptures from the museum’s collection, inviting reflection on the idealized bodies of classicism, says Eva Nygårds, exhibition curator and collection curator at the Gothenburg Museum of Art.
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.
Inspiring Liberation
The exhibition unfolds in three chapters: The Ideal Body – exploring historical ideals and their lasting influence; The Power of the Gaze – examining the dynamic between artist, model, and viewer; and The Expressive Body – celebrating the body as a site of action, freedom, and artistic experimentation
– In today’s media landscape, we are bombarded with images of perfect bodies and promises of physical rejuvenation and transformation. This exhibition takes a different path – exploring and challenging norms and preconceptions that restrict us, and inspiring visitors to break free from them, says Eva Nygårds.
A richly illustrated catalogue with newly commissioned essays by researchers, artists and writers accompanies the exhibition.
Body. Ideal, Gaze, Freedom runs from 7 March 2026 to 17 January 2027 at the Gothenburg Museum of Art.
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Göteborgs konstmuseum har en av norra Europas främsta konstsamlingar. Denna sträcker sig från 1400-talet fram till idag med betydande verk inom både nordisk och internationell konst. Förutom samlingen erbjuder museet utställningar, familjeaktiviteter, föreläsningar, workshops och visningar. Museet har en välsorterad museibutik. Samlingen omfattar omkring 70 000 verk och museet har ca 250 000 besökare årligen. Göteborgs konstmuseum är en del av Göteborgs Stads kulturförvaltning. Samfinansierat av Västra Götalandsregionen.
