The San Antonio Museum of Art will present the special exhibition Men of Steel, Women of Wonder (MOSWOW) on June 21.
Organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the exhibition examines the art world’s response to Wonder Woman and Superman, ranging from their Depression-era origins to today’s Contemporary interpretations. MOSWOW features more than seventy works including paintings, photographs, installations, and videos and will be on view in the Cowden Gallery until September 1, 2019.
The exhibition examines the way superheroes personify our collective hopes and dreams," said Katie Luber, the Kelso Museum Director. “From their earliest incarnations in 1930s comic books to the most recent megahit Avengers: Endgame, it’s no wonder so many artists have found inspiration in these cultural icons, exploring the relationship of Superman and Wonder Woman to national identity, American values, social politics, sexuality, and the concept of humanity. We believe these works will provoke powerful conversations.”
The exhibition includes a wide range of artists—such as Layla Ali, Dara Birnbaum, Renée Cox, Mary Beth Edelson, Fahamu Pecou, Pope.L, Mel Ramos, Norman Rockwell, and Jim Shaw, among others—and is organized thematically with four large sections.
Men of Steel, Women of Wonder opens with a section called “The Heroes We Know,” which features familiar depictions of Superman and Wonder Woman―reaffirming these characters as cultural icons. The second section, “Origin Stories,” places these characters into the contexts from which they emerged (the Great Depression, World War II). The third section, “Glimpsing Humanity,” considers Superman and Wonder Woman as American gods, much like Zeus and Hera of Greek mythology. Artists frame these heroes as all-powerful symbols to respect (or fear), yet also explore the ways they are made more human by their vulnerabilities.
The last section concludes with “Defender of Innocents,” in which artists explore the ethical and moral values these characters represent. Artists use these two icons to explore feminism, racial discrimination, gender and sexuality, immigration concerns, ideas of national identity, and the United States’ ethical responsibilities in global politics.