The exhibition with its ambiguous title plays with the different perceptions of sexuality in Judaism. Modern and contemporary art, traditional artifacts, film and modern media illustrate different Jewish positions that have been discussed in the canon of rabbinical literature for centuries. From the central importance of marriage and procreation to desire, taboos and the questioning of social norms, to the eroticism of spirituality, Sex. Jewish Positions presents the spectrum of Jewish attitudes and demonstrates the topicality of traditional debates in contemporary Jewish positions on sexuality.
JMB Director Hetty Berg emphasizes: "Sexuality is a universal topic - and we shed light on the central importance of sexuality in Judaism. We want to offer a variety of points of contact: for different generations and regardless of individual life experience and background." However, Hetty Berg warns that this will not result in a uniform picture of sexuality in Judaism: "The exhibition shows how diverse the views of sexuality are within Judaism. In this way, the JMB counters widespread clichés of Jewish life contexts."
R.B. Kitaj, Nose to Nose (Los Angeles Series #24), 2003, oil on canvas; R.B. Kitaj Estate, courtesy Piano Nobile, London © The Estate of R.B. Kitaj
Judaism rarely speaks with one voice; opinions also differ on the subject of sexuality: whether Talmudic scholars or contemporary artists, whether medieval philosophers or modern sex therapists, whether mystical thinkers or TikTok commentators - they all represent different views of sexuality and have their say in the exhibition.
The exhibition curator Miriam Goldmann fans out the range of topics: "Marriage and procreation are of central importance, as is sexual desire and its - according to today's understanding - possible control. The exhibits question social norms, refer to sexual taboos and point out what sexuality means for individual identity. We also illustrate the eroticism inherent in spirituality with examples from rituals, art and literature. The exhibition opens our eyes to the broad spectrum of Jewish attitudes and shows how contemporary Jewish positions on sexuality relate to traditional debates."
Exhibits from the JMB collection and loans from public and private collections in Europe, Israel and North America illustrate the heterogeneity of the different points of view. On display are sculptures, rabbinical writings, films, photographs, TikTok videos, ritual objects and poems. The exhibiting artists include Judy Chicago, R. B. Kitaj, Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Lee Lozano, Boris Lurie, Stéphane Mandelbaum, Benyamin Reich and Yona Wallach.
May 17 to October 6, 2024
www.jmberlin.de
Dorothea Moerman, Holy, 2023, linoleum print; Courtesy of the artist
