Up Close and Personal: Ten Artists' Fascination with Flesh

Flesh, the soft mass of muscle and fat which lies beneath the skin, has long been a point of interest for artists – the folds of a belly, the curve of a buttock, the drape of an underarm inspiring paintings, photographs, sculptures and installations. As a subject matter it crosses cultures, crosses centuries… the make-up of the body uniting humanity. What better theme, then, for an art exhibition?

"The word 'flesh' is loaded with moral, religious and erotic…