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Art and the Human Body

  • Painting, Photography, Sculpture
    40 minutes
    7 works

  • How have artists engaged with the human form? This trail will help you discover the different ways that artists have engaged with the body. It focuses on art works that are in the National Galleries of Scotland’s collection that are on display in the exhibition Death to Death and Other Small Tales at Modern One.

    Please note Death to Death and Other Small Tales features nudity and imagery of an explicit nature and some rooms may not be suitable for younger visitors. The locations of these works are clearly marked in advance within the exhibition.

Modern One / First floor

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Modern One First floor
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    How have female artists used their own body as the subject of their artwork? The works in this room by Tracey Emin and Francesca Woodman are examples of female artists who have explored their bodies: Emin created a series of intimate mono-prints detailing explicitly what she went through as a child; whereas Woodman’s series of beautiful photographs explore the possibilities of representation instead of revealing the artist’s identity.

    Self-Deceit #1 (Roma), Francesca Woodman

    How have female artists used their own body as the subject of their artwork? The works in this room by Tracey Emin and Francesca Woodman are examples of female artists who have explored their bodies: Emin created a series of intimate mono-prints detailing explicitly what she went through as a child; whereas Woodman’s series of beautiful photographs explore the possibilities of representation instead of revealing the artist’s identity.

    More on this work

    Location: Modern One / First floor / Gallery Corridor 1

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    In room 2 we explore how male artists have scrutinised the female form and how in modern and contemporary art the male gaze has often created controversial images. Here, Picasso, Balthus and Dix, although using very different styles, have created paintings that are explicit in their examination of sexuality.

    Nu Assis [Seated Nude], Pablo Picasso

    In room 2 we explore how male artists have scrutinised the female form and how in modern and contemporary art the male gaze has often created controversial images. Here, Picasso, Balthus and Dix, although using very different styles, have created paintings that are explicit in their examination of sexuality.

    More on this work

    Location: Modern One / First floor / 2

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    Artists have also experimented with manipulating the body into uncomfortable and disturbing forms. Surrealist artist Hans Bellmer created perverse versions of fairy tales and dolls that can be manoeuvred into strange and anguished forms. Distortion and reinterpretation of dolls, a stereotypically comforting object in childhood, is a theme reflected in a number of works in this room.

    La Poupée [The Doll], Hans Bellmer

    Artists have also experimented with manipulating the body into uncomfortable and disturbing forms. Surrealist artist Hans Bellmer created perverse versions of fairy tales and dolls that can be manoeuvred into strange and anguished forms. Distortion and reinterpretation of dolls, a stereotypically comforting object in childhood, is a theme reflected in a number of works in this room.

    More on this work

    Location: Modern One / First floor / 11

Modern One / Second floor

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Modern One Second floor
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    Returning to the idea of gaze, this room creates an interesting parallel between a male artist sculpting female genitalia (Marcel Duchamp) and a female artist sculpting a male phallus (Louise Bourgeois). It encourages discussions concerning the gaze of the artist and whether it differs depending on the gender of the artist. It also deals explicitly with an area of the body which, in many traditional representations, would be carefully covered by a well-placed hand or piece of fabric.

    Feuille de vigne femelle [Female Fig Leaf], Marcel Duchamp

    Returning to the idea of gaze, this room creates an interesting parallel between a male artist sculpting female genitalia (Marcel Duchamp) and a female artist sculpting a male phallus (Louise Bourgeois). It encourages discussions concerning the gaze of the artist and whether it differs depending on the gender of the artist. It also deals explicitly with an area of the body which, in many traditional representations, would be carefully covered by a well-placed hand or piece of fabric.

    More on this work

    Location: Modern One / Second floor / 17

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    There are several works in this room that can be seen as dealing with the absence of the figure and how best to represent this idea. Magritte’s magic mirror doesn’t show a reflection and instead offers - ‘Corps humain’ which translates as ‘Human Body’; Picabia’s ‘Girl Born Without a Mother’ alludes the Virgin birth; and Duchamp’s exhibition cover features a false breast, alienated from any other reference to the female form.

    Fille née sans mère [Girl Born without a Mother], Francis Picabia

    There are several works in this room that can be seen as dealing with the absence of the figure and how best to represent this idea. Magritte’s magic mirror doesn’t show a reflection and instead offers - ‘Corps humain’ which translates as ‘Human Body’; Picabia’s ‘Girl Born Without a Mother’ alludes the Virgin birth; and Duchamp’s exhibition cover features a false breast, alienated from any other reference to the female form.

    More on this work

    Location: Modern One / Second floor / 19

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    From absence to exploring the body in a scientific manner. ‘Skin Series No.8’ is a microscopic image of a minute section of skin. Despite its scientific appearance the Boyle Family randomly selected the area to focus on by throwing darts at a body chart. The result is a depiction of the human body to which we can all relate – we all have skin and at this level we are all the same. Note that this work is in the main stairwell.

    Skin Series No. 8, Boyle Family

    From absence to exploring the body in a scientific manner. ‘Skin Series No.8’ is a microscopic image of a minute section of skin. Despite its scientific appearance the Boyle Family randomly selected the area to focus on by throwing darts at a body chart. The result is a depiction of the human body to which we can all relate – we all have skin and at this level we are all the same.
    Note that this work is in the main stairwell.

    More on this work

    Location: Modern One / Second floor / Gallery Corridor 13

Grounds / Grounds

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Modern Grounds
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    No exploration of the human form would be complete without dealing with death. This work by Rachel Whiteread comprises two elements cast from a mortuary slab. One part has a slightly hollowed surface, designed to capture bodily fluids and channel them towards the foot end. The second part is a direct cast of the other. This makes them like male and female partners, as they would fit together if one were turned upside-down and placed on top of the other. Whiteread offers a poetic response to what could be an uncomfortable object to encounter.

    Untitled (Pair), Rachel Whiteread

    No exploration of the human form would be complete without dealing with death. This work by Rachel Whiteread comprises two elements cast from a mortuary slab. One part has a slightly hollowed surface, designed to capture bodily fluids and channel them towards the foot end. The second part is a direct cast of the other. This makes them like male and female partners, as they would fit together if one were turned upside-down and placed on top of the other. Whiteread offers a poetic response to what could be an uncomfortable object to encounter.

    More on this work

    Location: Grounds / Grounds / Grounds

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