When is the exhibition open?

Tuesday to Sunday 11 am to 7 pm, closed on Mondays. On selected holidays, the times are 11 am to 7 pm according to museum notice. Last admission according to house rules.

What admission prices apply for the visit?

Single ticket 4 euros for one exhibition, combination ticket 6 euros for all exhibitions at the location. Reduced 3 euros with proof. Children and teenagers up to 18 years have free admission.

Are there tours or educational offers?

Public tours are announced separately according to the program. For groups, registration is recommended. Additional fees for tours according to the museum price list.

Is the exhibition wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all exhibition rooms in the Diesel Power Plant are accessible via elevators. Information for companions and special opening hours can be found on the museum's website.

Is photography allowed in the exhibition?

Photography is only permitted for private purposes. Publication on social networks may involve third-party copyright.

How can one reach BLMK – Diesel Power Plant?

Address Uferstraße Am Amtsteich 15, 03046 Cottbus. Good public transport connections. Parking options are available in the vicinity of the city center, please observe local information.

Made Men presents rethought images of masculinity at BLMK Cottbus

Name: Made Men. Bodies, Gesture, Habitus of Masculine Imagery
Start: 2026-04-25T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-06-14T21:00:00+02:00
Location: BLMK – Dieselkraftwerk Cottbus

Masculinity in Transition: Reading Visual Worlds, Rethinking Role Models

The exhibition Made Men. Bodies, Gesture, Habitus of Masculine Imagery at the Brandenburg State Museum of Modern Art (BLMK), location Diesel Power Plant Cottbus, opens a precise yet sensually tangible view of models of masculinity since the Weimar Republic. Through concentrated examination of works, painting, drawing, graphics, and poster art unfold a panorama of poses, body ideals, and societal attributions – an artistic experience that combines aesthetic experience with cultural-historical reflection.

Body Images Between Pathos and Everyday Life

Colors, shapes, and materiality create a dense exhibition atmosphere: the striking contrast of the poster art, the grainy line of the drawing, the pasty surface of the painting. Gestures – clenched fists, closed body armor, casual poses – tell of power, vulnerability, and role behavior. This makes visible how masculinity asserted itself, formed, and shifted: from New Objectivity through Post-War Modernism to the present day of visual media.

Gesture and Habitus: What Images Reveal About Role and Gaze

The curatorial approach links image analysis with social semantics. Habitus, dress codes, emblems of strength, and symbols of belonging become iconographically legible. The selection from the collections of BLMK shows how ideals of discipline, work, sports, or subculture are visually coded – and where the pose breaks, irony or empathy emerges.

Collection Expertise of BLMK: Context Creates Insight

The exhibition rests on the proven expertise of BLMK with significant holdings in painting, graphics, photography, and poster art. The focus on East German art opens specific perspectives on images of masculinity in the 20th century that become readable in dialogue with international trends. This creates an art-historically grounded resonance space for contemporary questions of identity, gaze regimes, and representation.

Work Examination On-Site: Light, Space, Rhythm

In the monument-protected industrial setting of the former Diesel Power Plant, the works develop a striking spatial effect. Even light, clear hangings, and thematic sequences support attentive observation: proximity for details, distance for an overall formal view. Visitors experience a concentrated, decelerated reception – ideal conditions for a focused aesthetic experience.

Visitors' Voices

The reactions of visitors are clear: the exhibition excites art enthusiasts. On Instagram, it says: 'Strong curation that makes poses of masculinity readable in new ways.' On Facebook, a visitor writes: 'Rarely thought this differentiated about role images – and that with images that resonate deeply.'

Conclusion

Made Men offers a multifaceted, visually powerful engagement with concepts of masculinity in modernity. Those who appreciate art as a space for insight will find here intelligent curation, precise image analyses, and an intense art experience. Recommendation: Go, see, compare – and examine your own images in your mind.