The "Arch of Hysteria" with its ambivalence of loss of control and domination is a seductive motif that has a long tradition in the history of art and culture. It can be found in representations of dance and acrobatics, describing how the overextended (female) body expresses ecstatic rapture or even a psychotic disorder, while in dance it stands for virtuoso body control and expressiveness. The exhibition centers entirely on this powerful visual motif, showcasing works of art from the last one hundred years and various contexts, tracing the variety of expressive possibilities inherent in the pose – transforming it into abstract, yet expressive and unmistakable forms. The book and the exhibition illuminate the (art) historical roots of the motif as well as current adaptations in painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and video and performance art. Among the protagonists are Denis Darzacq, Max Ernst, Gustav Klimt, Alfred Kubin, Auguste Rodin, Alexandra Bircken, Louise Bourgeois, Valie Export, and many others.
Lena Nievers Books
