Revered and feared. Feminine power in art and beliefs

A selection of 154 pieces from the British Museum, coming from all continents and dating back to different time periods in the last 5,000 years at CaixaForum Barcelona and contemporary works. All with a purpose: to lead visitors to reflect about the influence and power of women in society. In particular, the symbolic and spiritual power exercised by female goddesses, saints, spirits and demons, the centre of the beliefs of many cultures and civilizations.

This temporary exhibition is based on specific works of art, such as sculptures and sacred objects that personify sometimes contrary concepts such as desire, fertility, harmony, magic, evil, compassion or chaos. These ideas are always represented in the form of women or sometimes as bigender or genderless people.Some are iconic creations, such as a Roman statue of the goddess Venus; the Queen of the Night, baked straw-tempered clay, modeled in high relief, created in Iraq almost four thousand years ago; or the figure of the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet. The exhibition also includes other pieces that are less known to the general public, such as the Taraka Indian dance mask, or video performances from recent decades.