The Queen's Breasts Carved from Wood | group exhibition

From the Middle Ages to modern times, the figure of the female martyr has represented the tension between physical suffering and spiritual exaltation, between violence and holiness, between femininity and its radical transcendence.

The iconography of Saint Agatha is one of the most vivid and, at the same time, ambivalent representations of the female body in Christian tradition. She is depicted in the company of her mutilating tormentors or, more often, with an attribute in the form of her severed breasts carried on a tray. From the Middle Ages to modern times, the figure of the martyred saint represents the tension between physical suffering and spiritual exaltation, between violence and holiness, between femininity and its radical transgression. At the centre of this symbolism are the breasts, as a sign of gender, a source of life, an object of desire and pleasure, and at the same time a place where fear and pain, the enforcement of power, punishment and control are focused.

In traditional hagiography, the martyrdom of St. Agatha serves as confirmation of the spiritual strength of a woman who does not surrender to temptation and remains faithful to Christ despite physical torture.
The project ‘The Queen's Breasts Carved from Wood’ is a critical analysis of the reception of St. Agatha to date. Her legend is treated as material for interpreting the mechanisms of cultural control over the female body in a phallocentric society. Female breasts, as a symbol of sexuality, motherhood, but also sacrifice and defeminisation, play a key role in this story. The motif of their amputation becomes a radical gesture of taking away femininity, but also, paradoxically, transforming it into a genderless figure, accessible to salvation. 
The artists invited to participate in the project break down the legend into its constituent parts, analysing the complex themes associated with Agatha's martyrdom: from the symbolism of the breast, through all stages of her torture, the issue of the forced sexualisation of female martyrs, to contemporary tropes related to non-binary gender, physicality and spirituality.
In the exhibition ‘The Queen's Breasts Carved from Wood,’ the legend of the saint is reinterpreted using the tools provided by contemporary art, taking into account social and cultural perspectives. The new narrative thus fits into the ongoing discussion about the place, role, and threats of women in contemporary culture. 

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INFORMATION FOR VISITORS

The exhibition contains images that may evoke strong emotions, scenes of a drastic nature, and elements of nudity. It may be unsuitable for sensitive individuals and minors. Therefore, we kindly request that you make an informed decision regarding your visit.


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