Looksmaxxing or Old Money Face – can eveyone become perfect?

The perfect body has become a technological project. But as more and more can be altered, measured, and improved, another question arises: who is actually allowed to join the quest for perfection?

The idea of the perfect body is far from new. Throughout history, women’s bodies in particular have been subject to control, judgment, and alteration—from corsets and diets to today’s injections, surgery, and digital filters. The ideals have shifted, but the demands placed on the body have persisted. Today, male beauty ideals are also an integral part of this culture.

Today, historical body ideals are colliding with new technology. The lines between healthcare, optimization, the beauty industry, and abuse are becoming increasingly blurred. Class, gender, and ethnicity determine who receives good care, who can afford to fine-tune their body—and who is left out.

At the same time, phenomena such as “looksmaxxing”—where one’s appearance is analyzed and optimized—and the almost opposite status symbol, the “old money face,” are on the rise. We’re supposed to optimize our appearance, but also look as if we’ve never had to make an effort to be desirable, visible, or marketable.

What happens when old body ideals are paired with new technological tools? Who draws the line between healthcare, beauty, and self-optimization? And who can actually afford to live up to these ideals?

In Tekniska's conversation and discussion series, [ Samtal & Idé ], journalist Erik Galli, fashion scholar and historian Emma Severinsson, and psychology professor Ata Ghaderi will come together for a conversation about the body as a health project, a beauty project, and a marker of social class. The conversation will be moderated by journalist Samanda Ekman.

Admission to Drömlandet, and all our other exhibitions, is included in the ticket.