Met Museum Explores Body-Instrument Connections in First Major Exhibition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will present 'Musical Bodies', the first major exhibition to examine the relationship between musical instruments and the human body. Opening June 7, the show brings together approximately 130 works from the Met's collection and international loans, including musical instruments, paintings, sculptures, and drawings. The exhibition highlights how the body itself functions as an instrument through clapping, tapping, beatboxing, and whistling, while instruments often mimic human forms. Max Hollein, The Met's Marina Kellen French Director and CEO, noted that instruments are recognized as both creative tools and artworks. The multisensory exhibition spans global cultures and historical periods, offering a novel perspective on artistic expression.