‘The Cult of Beauty’ stands up for bodies excluded from aesthetic canons in new CCCB exhibition

Based on the ideals of human beauty that exist in all eras and cultures, the latest exhibition at Barcelona's Contemporary Culture Centre (CCCB) traces the evolution of these ideals throughout history.

‘The Cult of Beauty’ analyzes how aesthetic canons have been constructed, and stands up for bodies and beauties excluded from the norm.

Through 400 pieces, the exhibition puts works, objects, and installations into dialogue to address how the idea of ​​beauty is conditioned by morality, status, and gender.

The exhibition denounces that notions of physical attractiveness change over time, but that the pursuit of beauty never stops. “Art has tried to capture beauty, science constantly innovates to achieve it and the market constantly generates needs to stay young and perfect,” exhibition curators point out.

For this reason, the exhibition offers a critical look at the construction of beauty canons from antiquity to the present day and analyzes the role that art, society, politics, religion or medicine have played in it.

It also looks at the cosmetics industry, in the design and marketing of products, and focuses on skin, hair or flesh in the struggle for control of bodies.

The visit allows you to immerse yourself in the ideals of beauty with special emphasis on the role played by the social, political and religious context, forms of dissidence, the self-image industry, the mass marketing of beauty products, skin care and makeup, the plasticity of the skin or the control of the body and its shapes.

‘The Cult of Beauty’ opens on Thursday and can be visited until November 8.