GIRLS. On Boredom, Rebellion and Being In-Between

In Western art’s canonised history, girlhood has been framed as a fleeting phase: tender, naive, in transition. As an eternal muse, this ‘young girl’ in art history was an anonymity, a silent subject, a daughter of. She plays the piano, holds a kitten, and clasps her hands politely on her knees: her pose and paraphernalia are all suggestive of her virtue and innocence. She’s not bothering anyone, she’s just there. Art that truly centres girlhood, meanwhile, is too often dismissed as sentimental or lacking intellectual rigour. But this trivialisation overlooks the emotional, psychological and political depth that the topic can offer. Through the eyes of the artists, designers, photographers and filmmakers in this exhibition, girlhood is more than just a theme, but a way of seeing – of remembering and imagining.

The future depends on how we support teenagers today. Yet, for too many, that future is uncertain. In many communities around the world, gender inequality, poverty, conflict and deep-rooted discrimination steal opportunities before they begin. This project is for these girls, too. It serves as a reminder that through art, fashion and culture, representation and storytelling are essential in shaping visibility. GIRLS is an interdisciplinary project, bringing together visual artists, fashion designers, photographers, costume designers, and filmmakers. It is inclusive of LGBTQIA+ youth and has been created in-conversation with teenagers of today.

With work by: Louise Bourgeois, Veronique Branquinho, Jim Britt, Sofia Coppola, Edgar Degas, Chopova Lowena, Jenny Fax, Robert Gober, Lauren Greenfield, Iris Häussler, Nathanaëlle Herbelin, Nancy Honey, Roni Horn, Fumiko Imano, Jas Knight, Sofia Lai, Eimear Lynch, Martin Margiela, Alice Neel, Meret Oppenheim, Frida Orupabo, Simone Rocha, Nancy Steiner, Leticia Valverdes, Jenny Watson, Arisa Yoshioka, Leonardo Van Dijl, Micaiah Carter, Harley Weir, Nigel Shafran, Léon Spilliaert, Juergen Teller and many more.