Talking about sex makes many people uneasy. Not only in biology class does the topic of sex education elicit giggles, but adults often find it difficult to discuss as well. The new exhibition “Apropos Sex” at the Museum for Communication Berlin aims to change that.
“All guests are invited to lie down in bed,” says co-curator Annabelle Hornung during a press preview. That is literal; in the entrance hall there’s a large bed with colorful cushions bearing words like intimacy, shame, or curiosity. They are meant to spark visitors into an initial exchange.
‘Bravo’ Magazines and Penis Plush Figures
The exhibition is divided into five zones: “Let’s Talk,” “Informed,” “Boundary Drawing,” “Sexuality and Me,” and “Media Lust.” Plush figures of the penis and vulva, as well as models of the internal sex organs, are available to touch. In the education area, vintage “Bravo” magazines and sex education books from the 1940s are showcased. In the “Beyond Binary” section, the exhibit explicitly addresses queer topics.
The display is interactive, with dildos and nude images also on view. Yet the museum director, Anja Schaluschke, emphasizes: “This is not a exhibition about sex. This is an exhibition about communicating about sex.” The curators’ aim is to find ways to talk about taboos and to share discussions about sexuality.
Age Recommendation: 14 and Up
Some visitors may find the exhibit perhaps too tame or not sexy enough, noted Tine Nowak, another curator. Others might experience it quite differently. “Our knowledge about sexuality varies widely,” Nowak said. The team aimed to reach as many people as possible.
The exhibition opens on October 16 and runs through September 6, 2026. It was designed by Studio Erika and has already been shown in Frankfurt am Main. It is curated by, among others, Julia Marzoner, Sebastian Mall, and Katja Weber.
