Understand
History of heartbreak exhibition opens in Oxford
Overview
A new exhibition titled 'After Love' has opened at the OVADA Gallery in Oxford, charting the history and evolution of heartbreak over the past 400 years. Organised by Dr Sally Holloway, a historian of emotions at the University of Warwick, the exhibition features more than a hundred works in various mediums by over 50 artists, exploring how people have experienced, expressed, and recovered from romantic loss from early modern England to the present day.
Key points
- The 'After Love' exhibition has opened at Oxford's OVADA Gallery and runs Thursday to Sunday until 18 October.
- The project was organised by Dr Sally Holloway, a historian of emotions at the University of Warwick.
- The exhibition features over a hundred works across different mediums, including film, sculpture, and collage, created by more than 50 artists.
- It examines how heartbreak has been understood over the last 400 years, contrasting historical views—such as physical imbalances or snapped heartstrings—with modern experiences.