From 28 April to 9 January 2022, CaixaForum Madrid is organising a temporary exhibition that includes pieces from different eras, geographies and styles to examine how the human being portrays itself.

It is a complex and attractive journey through the history and art that reflects human creations and representations over time.   Through these works, it is possible to delve into the themes and symbolic concepts that civilisations have shared, whilst others can be seen that add a halo of mysticism, veneration of the beauty and mystery of the human body.

Different cultures and themes that have co-existed over the centuries can be contemplated, ranging from stylisation to hyper-realism and from sculpture to painting or modern art. Ancient communities join hands with the present, making a comparison of the forms and ideas around the human figure.

The gallery has pieces from the British Museum, contemporary art from the Caixa Foundation Collection and major loans from other institutions, such as the Prado Museum. This enables the visitor to travel in time from prehistory, seeing a skull that was modelled 11,000 years ago, to the present day, with audiovisual compositions. 

Image Credits:

• Bust of a queen or goddess, granite, 18th Dynasty, c. 1400-1390 BC, possibly from Sais (Egypt) © Trustees of the British Museum
• Bust in the style of Alejandro Magno, marble, 2nd century, Roman Empire © Trustees of the British Museum
• Badge of Barack Obama, paper, plastic and aluminium, 2008, United States © Trustees of the British Museum
• Portrait of a woman, tempera and encaustic on linden wood, c. 100-120, Saqqara (Egypt) © Trustees of the British Museum