Feminine power
the divine
to the demonic
Past exhibition
#FemininePowerExhibition
19 May – 25 September 2022
Room 35
The Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery
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The first exhibition of its kind, Feminine power took a cross-cultural look at the profound influence of female spiritual beings within global religion and faith.
Visitors were invited to explore the significant role that goddesses, demons, witches, spirits and saints have played – and continue to play – in shaping our understanding of the world.
How do different traditions view femininity? How has female authority been perceived in ancient cultures? For insights, the exhibition looked to divine and demonic figures feared and revered for over 5,000 years. From wisdom, passion and desire, to war, justice and mercy, the exhibition sought to show how the diverse expression of female spiritual powers around the world prompts us to reflect on how we perceive femininity and gender identity today.
Worship of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes, reveals how her destructive capacity is venerated alongside her ability to create. The Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, who transcends gender and is visualised in male form in Tibet and female in China and Japan, uncovers the importance of gender fluidity in some spiritual traditions. And the terrifying Hindu goddess Kali, depicted in art carrying a severed head and bloodied sword, is honoured as the Great Mother and liberator from fear and ignorance.
Enhanced by engagement with contemporary worshippers, faith communities and insights from high-profile collaborators Bonnie Greer, Mary Beard, Elizabeth Day, Rabia Siddique and Deborah Frances-White, the exhibition considered the influence of female spiritual power and what femininity means today.
Bringing together sculptures, sacred objects and artworks from the ancient world to today, and from six continents, the exhibition highlighted the many faces of feminine power – ferocious, beautiful, creative or hell-bent – and its seismic influence throughout time.
Highlights
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![A mask of a fierce looking figure with wide red detailed eyes, sharp teeth and a long stuck-out tongue.]()
Papier mâché and clay dance mask from the workshop of Sri Kajal Datta
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![A terracotta relief in the shape of a face, wearing a headress.]()
Terracotta gorgon
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![A vibrant painting with purples, reds, blue and yellows showing a female deity's body erupting]()
Judy Chicago (b.1939), The Creation, part of The Birth Project. Print, 1985. Reproduced by permission of the artist. 'The Creation' by Judy Chicago
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![A porcelain figure of the Chinese goddess Guanyin, with 16 arms reaching out.]()
Porcelain figure of Guanyin
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![A dark brown bronze statue of Lilith with piercing green eyes.]()
Lilith, Kiki Smith, 1994. Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, photo by Hyla Skopitz. 'Lilith' by Kiki Smith
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![A female figure with four arms stands on a male figure's chest. Behind is a gold and red backdrop.]()
'Kali Murti' by Kaushik Ghosh
Reviews
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Supported by
We believe that by understanding the past, we all have the opportunity to define the future. In the Citi exhibition Feminine power, the Museum uses its collection, along with some spectacular loans, to create a thought-provoking look at the diversity of representations and complex meanings of the divine female over time.
As a global bank, our mission is to serve as a trusted partner to our clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress. Success in our mission is only possible if we can continue to foster a culture of equality and inclusion that enables and encourages diversity of thinking.
