The Cult of Beauty at the Wellcome Collection

The Cult of Beauty is making a spot in societal pressure, history, ideals, and myth.

The exhibition considers the influence of morality, status, health, age, race and gender on the evolution of ideas about beauty, inviting to question established norms and reflect on more inclusive definitions of beauty. And you know I like to question.

I really appreciate the mix of cultures, places, religions, and forms across the beginning of history -and the exhibition- and the concepts of beauty. Basically, not starting with Greece and then the Renaissance is much appreciated. Although the central figures on the first part were Roman casts on a mini pedestal and you purposely needed to turn around them, admire them, be a bit voyeuristic, a bit contemplative, a bit admiring their beauty, just saying.

I like that there were no gender and sexuality gaps on display although the narrative about male naked figures and their relation to power, apart from an obvious beauty idealisation, was missing (phallocentric theory and the social world, gosh). I also think it was brilliant to open the conversation about what it is happening now with the social media pressure, standards, and what it takes.

There was another meaning of beauty that was more from a personal and emotional perspective with a stunning installation that it felt disconnected, sadly. But still good to bringing it up!