In eight chapters and 120 works of art from the fourteenth century to the present day, the exhibition explores the many different aspects of motherhood, from the concept of the “good mother” to care work and family configurations. It illustrates how the role of mother quickly breaks down into different, highly individual perspectives that are nevertheless deeply intertwined in cultural history.
In addition to painting, sculpture, video installations and photography, the broad spectrum of the show also encompasses everyday objects as well as music and commercial images. Such as Angela Merkel (b. 1954), nicknamed “Mutti” (Mum) when she was German Chancellor depicted as Mother Theresa on the cover of Der Spiegel magazine.
With a focus on the societal expectations that have always influenced motherhood, it offers a broad panorama that involves multiple perspectives, including those of fathers and those without their own children. Connections between the works reveal continuities, but also the versatile depictions of mothers, which are continuously being appropriated, reinterpreted, disputed and celebrated.
