THE GREAT ARC

The »great arc« or »arc de cercle« (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, though it also describes ­physical or psycho­logical illnesses: the over­extended (female) body expresses ecstatic rapture or even a ­psychotic disorder, yet in dance it stands for virtuoso body control and expressiveness. With »Arch of Hysteria«, the Museum der ­Moderne, Salzburg, centers an exhibition entirely on this powerful visual motif. Works of art from the last one hundred years and various contexts, are on display, tracing the variety of expressive possibilities inherent in the pose – to the point of transforming it into abstract, yet expressive and therefore 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, Georg Herold, Gustav Klimt, Alfred Kubin, ­Auguste Rodin, as well as Alexandra Bircken, Louise ­Bourgeois, Ronit Porat, Barbis Ruder, Charlotte Rudolph, Valerie Schmidt, and VALIE EXPORT; furthermore, many works were created especially for the show.

Exhibition:
Museum der Moderne Salzburg, 21/7/2023 – 14/1/2024