Sex can connect, liberate, hurt and control people. With the exhibition "Sex Now", the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf invites visitors to discover lust, the body and desire in all their complexity.
From latex fashion, furniture design, photography and media art to dolls and toys: In ten themed rooms with around 400 objects, the show stages an intimate dialogue about sexuality and society. It tells of erotic fantasies, queer perspectives and new realities - free from taboos and stigmas.
From traditional gender roles and the sexual revolution of 1968 to current debates: SEX NOW begins with a historical overview of the changing sexual morality towards #sexpositivity. Objects such as the Sex Education Atlas from 1969 or a pair of purple dungarees as a symbol of political emancipation are juxtaposed with the Fleshie Fountain, an installation by the artist Peaches: Originally designed for male masturbation, silicone sex toys become autonomous beings that satisfy each other and thus undermine patriarchal power relations. In Whose Jizz Is This?, Peaches reflects on the historical dimensions of sex, queerness and politics.
"With this exhibition, we want to initiate an open, humorous and forward-looking discourse on sex," says Alain Bieber, curator of the exhibition and artistic director of the NRW-Forum, "We are noticing that sexual freedom and education are coming under pressure worldwide. Especially in view of all the conflicts and tensions in the world, our motto should once again be: Make Love, Not War."
The public can expect interactive stations and fun facts that impart knowledge and sexual education in a playful way. For example, visitors can test their knowledge of myths and facts about sex or make their own predictions about future visions of sexuality and comment on them at the Sexoscope. (Source: NRW Forum)
Please note: The "Sex Now" exhibition is open to visitors aged 18 and over. It shows artistic works with explicit sexual content.
Exhibition duration: 5 September 2025 to 3 May 2026.
