“Sex Now”, also “Sex Jetzt”. Is sex today really that different from before? With this question, the recently opened exhibition “Sex Now” at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf examines how sexual acts in all their facets have evolved since the sexual revolution of 1968.
Even before the program truly gets underway, you can settle into a plush, red-hued bed at the entrance. The NRW-Forum presents itself until May 3, 2026 in a cozy, wildly colorful, and intimate mode — all at once. In the show curated by Alain Bieber (artistic director of the NRW-Forum) and Judith Winterhager (curatorial assistant), around 400 works can be viewed. Some can even be touched or experimented with. Just like the striking bed, designed to set a mood. Hint: wear shoes that you can slip on and off quickly to test all the interactive elements.
Walls full of close-ups of vulvas and penis selfies
Sex is messy, shameful, and belongs behind closed doors in cozy sanctuaries. That this will be no longer the case by 2025 is proven by the surprising, informative, and curiosity-rousing yet strictly adults-only exhibition. Plan on about two hours to roam leisurely through ten distinct worlds that engage with multiple aspects of lust, intimacy, provocation, and boundary-pushing — many of which live primarily as thoughts in our heads.
In the “Fluffy Library” you can stay comfortably. Simply lie back on plush seating and flip through literature and comics that don’t just function within heteronormativity but also foreground feminism in pornography, transgender and non-binary perspectives, and a broad spectrum of body shapes. “Underneath” (Untenrum) meanwhile presents several walls full of close-ups of vulvas and penis selfies — some provocative, some utterly whimsical. It’s not always easy in the exhibition to decide whether to stand spellbound in front of certain works, avert your gaze and move on, or burst into a hearty laugh.
Visitors can get bound to the Andreaskreuz
An ASMR room, composed of a chill lounge, alluring scents, and sexy sounds, sits within the “Killing Me Softly” section. Just a room away, viewers are quickly transported to entirely different emotions as video installations orbit the #MeToo debate like paintings. Classic issues from Spiegel and Stern also find their way into the NRW-Forum, illustrating how defamatory coverage of gay men and HIV appeared in prestigious magazines just a few decades ago. A leap into the past that feels farther away than it actually is.
“PorYes” instead of “PorNo” — slips of paper and a pen are available to jot down a secret sexual fantasy, note it, and paste it on a wall. If you dare, since someone is always watching intently. There’s also a small cinema room where artsy videos are shown, the kind you rarely see on mainstream porn sites.
If you’ve ever wanted to don a strap-on dildo or a harness with friends, or to be bound to the Andreaskreuz, you can playfully explore the world of “Kinky,” while right next door giant drawings by Tom of Finland invite close inspection. The future of sexual gratification is hinted at in video games, some of which can be tested with a virtual reality headset. And who can collect the most bodily fluids from men?
Awareness Team on site
In stark contrast, artist Zheng Bo’s work “Pteridophilia” delves into the sensation of ferns on the skin, exploring the bond between humans and nature. The film is shown in the exhibition’s “Futuresex” corner. A healthy relationship with oneself and a respectful relationship with others are prerequisites for truly fulfilling sexual fun. So “Sexual Wellness” should not be missing, featuring toys from several decades.
“Sex Now” unfolds with atmospheric and electric music, displaying bodies, desire, both familiar and unfamiliar, curiosities, and explicit content. Any approach to the topic is acceptable as long as no one feels uncomfortable. An on-site Awareness Team can be approached at any time. The exhibition, running through the spring, is captivating and entertaining, highly enjoyable and humorous, arousing, and thoughtfully diverse, acting as a bridge between worlds that at first glance seem mutually exclusive. At the end, be sure to check out the museum shop, which offers stylish accessories, posters, bags, postcards, books, exclusive Playboy issues, and Tenga Eggs.
