Grace Schwindt: A History of Touch

Grace Schwindt’s multidisciplinary practice encompasses drawing, performance, film, sculpture and painting. She explores the fragility of the human body, trauma and the healing power of touch and care. Drawing on personal and physical experiences, she examines how memory and history are constructed and the impact of the capitalist system on our bodies, minds and collective memory.

In 2023, Schwindt was invited as a researcher at M’s depot, where she delved into the collection and the inner workings of the museum. She was struck by the care taken by the curators to preserve even the most deteriorated historical sculptures. This experience resonated with her broader research on the portrayal of the human body in Western culture, which often emphasizes strength and functionality over other qualities. Traditionally, fragility and damage are perceived as flaws to be concealed or remedied. Schwindt, however, views scars and wounds as a source of power, revitalization, and transformation. In her new drawings, paintings and sculptures she presents here, the artist draws inspiration from the fractures and losses in the collection’s sculptures, seeking to create a fresh narrative about corporality.

A History of Touch includes existing and new works, the latter of which Schwindt created in response to her time at M. In the exhibition, you can watch a documentary about the artistic journey, from exploring the depot to making the work and assembling this exhibition.

Curator: Eva Wittocx