Kopin Katalin (szerk.): Test objektív. A test reprezentációja a kortárs művészetben - Ferenczy Múzeum kiadványai, C. sorozat: Katalógusok 5. (Szentendre, 2013)
In the 1960s and 1970s, the changes of artistic attitude brought about the reinterpretation of body image. The former idealising and aestheticising depiction and model role were replaced by the use of the body as a device in art. The human body became both the subject and object of creation. Simultaneously, representation schemes got into a broader context. An analytical, critical approach appeared, and the restructuring and expansion of formerly accepted norms became common. This process has not finished yet. Topics such as body consciousness and self-image have been important inspirational sources of contemporary art ever since. Nowadays, contemporary art tends to visualise the body from an external viewpoint, in an objective way, emphasises its alienation and depicts relentless reality. As opposed to this artistic approach, media industry treats human body as a product, and emphasises its perfect, idealised image, focusing exclusively on external features. The works displayed at the exhibition, immortalise friendless, lonely people with all their unconcealed weaknesses, mistakes, spiritual defects and physical deformities. In contrast with classical art traditions, the fallible body comes into the limelight, either in naked or dressed form, vegetating alone or in joint loneliness. Documentarist attitude is close to these works, but they provide more than the narrow categories of ’social photo’ or ‘social painting’, projecting the spiritual and physical description of the age. Instead of the idealised body image, the selected artists reflected on the physiological changes of the body. As opposed to the cult of youth and beauty, the sight of ageing, decaying bodies is completely banished from our visual culture. The participating artists approach and analyse the theme of objective, daring, pure and simple body portrayal from different aspects through their works. The thematic exhibition provides insight into the theme through four branches of art. The artists presenting their works in the photo, painting, video and installation sections reflect on the same topic by different means. 15 INTRODUCTION
