Introduction
We own our bodies. However, we only know a part of them. The body is a complicated mechanism to understand and, over time, has given rise to a multitude of perspectives. Beyond its biological structure, the body can be viewed in various ways. For example, our bodies are deeply intertwined with the society we inhabit, and are shaped by mechanisms universally accepted by institutions such as medicine, religion, culture, and law. The body operates according to these mechanisms, is influenced and governed by them, and must adhere to rules and conform to norms. Nevertheless, during this process, humans retain a degree of agency and mastery over their bodies, not entirely bound to the existing societal rules and systems.
This exhibition showcases a selection of artifacts including classical texts, antiquities, and paintings. This exhibition reinterprets and re-presents the body from the perspectives of medicine, religion, culture, and law through the images presented in these objects. The exhibition is divided into four sections: “Perspectives on Body,” “Body Training,” “Body Variations,” and “Body Discipline.” These sections explore the understanding of the body within diverse cultural contexts, such as medicine, forensic science, Buddhism, and Taoism, while also illustrating practices such as martial arts, sexual arts, secret rituals, dances, sports, and physical guidance techniques. Additionally, the exhibition examines depictions of hybrid bodies (human-animal or animal-human hybrid forms), disabilities, and the constraints imposed on the body by politics, the traditional code of ethics, and punishment. Through these lenses, the exhibition shows how bodies have been depicted and represented.
Visitors are invited to delve into ancient ways of observing the body and uncover past understandings and imaginations of it. This exploration encourages reflection on how we think about and perceive our bodies and their sensory functions today. This exhibition seeks to unravel the enigma of the human body by understanding its meanings and illuminating humanity’s place in this ever-changing world.