These days we speak of the human body with increasing opennes; the veil has been lifted off eroticism and sexuality in the media. Magazines of all kinds show the body-builder’s physique, fitness, and health as a prerequisite of success in society. It is no surprise in the given circumstance if the few words that are spoken about disease and bodily defects are dropped with growing modesty, while thanks to the growth in civilization, disease in particular means the greatest threat to human life. People speak about their sexuality far more openly than their illnesses, a contradiction that engages artists as well.
Since the exhibition is connected to a conference on senology, works of art dealing with breasts and cancer or the vulnerability of the human body have been selected. The portrayal of the nude body at any given time formulated the idea of beauty, the idealised notion of the beautiful an age had, and also bore an erotic content. Especially uncovered breasts meant temptation on one hand, and penitence, defencelessness on the other. Today breasts are a matter of the greatest pressure upon individuals to conform.
We hope that the exhibition will prompt the viewer to face up to disease and to react to social expectations, stripping off the shame that stems from them. To show art that helps in defeating fear of disease and especially cancer, and breaks the seal of silence surrounding diseases is our aim.
