Breasts is the collective exhibition curated by Carolina Pasti which displays the works of over thirty emerging and established artists from all over the world, ranging in the fields of painting, sculpture, photography and cinema from 1500 to the present day. The works on display explore how the breast has been understood and represented in art across different cultures and traditions. Reflecting on a range of themes ranging from motherhood to empowerment, sexuality, body image and illness, the presentation investigates how breasts act as a catalyst for discussing socio-political realities, challenging historical traditions and expressing personal identities and collective. The mission is to promote breast cancer awareness to a wider audience through the channel of art.
The exhibition is divided into five chapters arranged in the rooms on the main floor of the building accessible through an engaging and site-specific entrance designed by Studio Buchanan. The first room examines the historical representation of the breast and the construction of narratives linked to the female body, highlighting how modern and contemporary artists have intervened in these consolidated preconceptions. The focus of this exploration is on the Renaissance Masters, specifically examining the iconography of the Madonna del Latte. This iconic depiction not only influenced Cindy Sherman's 'Portraits of History', but also highlights how contemporary artists such as Richard Dupont, Teniqua Clementine Crawford and Sherrie Levine incorporate Renaissance elements into their figurative paintings. In the second room, Pasti explores the breast as inspiration for sculptural practices. The space features a multimedia artwork by Marcel Duchamp, Prière de toucher (Please Touch), which features a foam breast attached to the cover of the book Le Surréalisme en 1947. Wearable chest plates by Claude Lalanne will also be on display and will serve as fashion items, alongside the Allen Jones mannequin which evokes historical precedents such as armor and religious vestments.Prune Nourry, diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and the author of a film documenting her treatment journey, will present a sculpture of a breast. Through the lens of photography, the third room examines the impact of digital media on the representation of the breast. The surrealist photography of Robert Mapplethorpe and Irving Penn explores symbolic and unconventional representations that go beyond traditional and literal manifestations. Instead, they employ dreamlike, symbolic, or abstract elements to evoke subconscious emotions. Sometimes breasts were depicted as mysterious landscapes or abstract shapes, detached from their usual context. The intent was to arouse wonder, desire or discomfort, pushing viewers to question conventional perceptions of the human body and sexuality.
The third stanza also shows how breasts have been used as a commercial device in marketing and advertising, with sexual appeal emerging as a common tactic to promote products. This room delves into how fashion photographers, including Oliviero Toscani, have challenged and subverted the conventional role of advertising, intentionally creating a sense of unease and confusion. The work of Hsu Che-yu blurs the line between reality and the digital world, with a subtle reference to the pervasive nature of pornography. The fourth room features artists who fragment, abstract and deconstruct the breast in their art, establishing connections with consumer culture, materialism and contemporary society. Two distinctive themes emerge in this space. The game emerges as a distinctive theme, challenging the male gaze and reclaiming its representation. By instilling a sense of humor, the artists challenge rigid notions regarding the female form, disrupting conventional ideals, which leads to a larger conversation about body positivity and self-acceptance. Artists including Chloe Wise, Sarah Lucas, Louise Bourgeois, Laure Prouvost and Aurora Pellizzi contribute to a conversation about identity, consumer culture and the evolving representation of breasts in art.
The last room will present a film by Laure Prouvost titled “Four For See Beauties“. Filmed in 2022, the fifteen-minute film depicts three women and the artist's newborn baby alongside a series of sea creatures that recall the transformative stages of human life.