When is the exhibition running?

The exhibition is on view from February 28, 2026, to May 17, 2026, at Diesel Power Plant Cottbus.

Where is the exhibition taking place?

At the Brandenburg State Museum of Modern Art, Diesel Power Plant location, Uferstraße/Am Amtsteich 15, 03046 Cottbus.

Is the exhibition accessible?

Yes, according to the museum, the exhibition rooms and the event hall are accessible via elevators.

What artworks and media can I expect?

Selected works from painting, drawing, graphic art, and poster art from the BLMK collection will be on display.

Are there guided tours or educational programs?

Yes, BLMK offers guided tours and art educational programs. A tour with Christopher Straub is scheduled for this exhibition.

How long should I plan for my visit?

For an intensive exhibition tour, about one to one and a half hours is recommended, depending on interest in the artworks and accompanying texts.

Cottbus Shows Images of Men That Shift, Break, and Can Be Read Anew

Name: Made Men. Bodies, Gestures, Habitus of Masculine Imagery
Start: 2026-02-28T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-05-17T21:00:00+02:00
Location: Dieselkraftwerk

How Images Shape Masculinity: Made Men at BLMK Cottbus

At the Brandenburg State Museum of Modern Art in the Diesel Power Plant Cottbus, an exhibition titled Made Men. Bodies, Gestures, Habitus of Masculine Imagery develops a sharper focus on the image of man in modern and contemporary art. The exhibition traces how masculinity has been represented, asserted, staged, and continuously shifted since the Weimar era.

An Artistic Experience Between Body, Power, and Role

The exhibition brings together works from the collections of the BLMK in painting, drawing, graphic art, and poster art. It thus opens a dynamic panorama of body images, gestures, and social attributions. Visitors encounter not only heroic worker figures but also ironic breaks, fragile identities, and hedonistic visual worlds.

From Weimar Era to Present

The curatorial approach makes it apparent that masculinity is not a fixed motif but a cultural negotiation process. This is particularly clear in the juxtaposition of early socialist imagery with later, more distanced positions. Works by Norbert Bisky, Max Uhlig, Joseph W. Huber, and other artists show how bodies assert themselves in space, dissolve, or become symbols of social order.

Imagery, Habitus, and Aesthetic Experience

The exhibition offers a dense examination of works between ideological projection and personal vulnerability. The spatial effect of the Diesel Power Plant, the depth of the collection, and the precise selection of historical and contemporary works create an exhibition atmosphere where art-historical reflection and sensual perception come together. Thus, the art experience also becomes a contemplation of role images, body politics, and visual culture.

Guided Tours, Art Mediation, and Educational Value

BLMK is known for its art education and guided tour offerings. This exhibition also invites dialogue about image strategies, social norms, and historical contexts. Especially for art-interested visitors, school classes, and those interested in cultural education, the exhibition provides a well-founded access to questions of gender, representation, and remembrance culture.

Conclusion

Made Men is not an exhibition about a fixed image of man but about its production, its fractures, and its contradictions. Those who appreciate the museum as a place of knowledge and aesthetic experience should experience this exhibition live at Diesel Power Plant Cottbus.