What is the Museum of Sex Objects?

The Museum is a response to renewed interest in identity and sexual freedom. We are an interdisciplinary fictive art project that challenges preconceptions around sexuality.

Our storytelling objects deliberately combine textual and visual strategies to produce works that straddle the boundary between art, fiction, and history. Our pieces are like historical novels, woven from fragmented records and whispers.

Tracing our sexual past is not always easy; many clues are locked away in institutions or even hidden under beds, possibly thought too subversive. In more tolerant times, it is easy to forget the struggle for sexual freedom came at such a cost to countless individuals. The Museum's purpose is to scratch the surface, peel back some layers and bring history's blind spots into the light.

We create objects that tell the stories of these forgotten sexual heroes, moments, and places. Our storytelling pieces seek to reframe historical narratives and encourage discourse.

The Museum CIC is a not for profit organisation that has recently received funding from Arts Council England to produce an installation.

The installation

The installation will be on public view for 2-4 weeks in June 2022.

It is a co-created piece with several artists and makers involved in producing work.

We are keen for people to get involved with the storytelling through research or creating.

Featured

A Space of Peril

Focuses on being a gay man traversing public spaces, from the Molly Houses of 18th Century England to Cottaging in public toilets of the 20th Century. Exploring stories of encounters and the perilous consequences if caught.

The Fallen Sisterhood

Who is considered “fallen”, and why? This area explores female sexuality through the male gaze. Its storytelling objects relate to prostitution, witchcraft, and social injustice towards the feminine.

Ode to perversion

Discusses practices and people who are considered sexually non-normative. This will include such objects that retell 18th Century sexual crazes for flagellation and will incorporate stories from the current BDSM community. It explores ideas of ‘normal’ and, depending on positionality, what is a vice or a virtue?

Wall of Sexual Heroes

We asked academics, artists, curators, and anyone interested in sharing their stories of the people who have inspired them creatively, personally, or through their gender studies or history work. We are not interested in the famous but the hidden histories and people.

The wall is a textural art piece co-created by many people and tells personal stories of admiration and inspiration.

Haunted Feminine

Is female sexuality still haunted by the past? By the need for control of both the medical profession and the male gaze? Is this still true today?

These pieces will explore the cultural suppression of female sexuality and its refusal to be kept quiet. These breadcrumbs will be traced from the Meretrix to Hysteria and up to the present day.

'Love what you are doing.'
Simon Stock senior director of modern Art Gagosian

'It was great having you and so thrilled to hear the talk went to well. Lots of members commented on how great it was and engaging.'
Annalise, Members Relations Manager, Soho House

''It certainly is a fantastic project; we are delighted to be involved in it. And with your motivation, vision and expertise I am sure you are up for exciting times ahead.'
Andrea Haaser, Business Director, Publicis