The idea of beauty and its proselytes

What is beauty? How can an ever-changing idea rise to eternal value? What are the driving forces that have pushed society to believe in the myth of universal beauty? The Wellcome Collection presents The Cult of Beauty, a major exhibition that explores notions of beauty across time and cultures. An exhibition to examine the profound influence that morality, social status, health, age, race and gender have had and still have today on the idea of beauty throughout the history of humanity. The Cult of Beauty will include over 200 objects and artworks featuring artists Juno Calypso, J D Okhai Ojeikere and Angélica Dass, among others. As well as new commissions for Narcissister, Xcessive Aesthetics, Renaissance Goo & Baum and Leahy, Makeupbrutalism (Eszter Magyar), The Unseen and the new film Permissible Beauty. The exhibition will explore three overarching themes: beauty ideals, the beauty industry and subverting beauty. Inviting visitors to question established norms, challenge preconceived notions of beauty and encouraging dialogue, reflection and more inclusive definitions of beauty open to change.