Image: ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum
ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum will present ‘Disobedient. The Body in Punk’, an exhibition bringing together approximately 130 works that examine punk’s emergence in 1970s London and its subsequent spread and transformation, particularly within Berlin’s subcultures. The exhibition will be on view at the Aarhus museum from 27 June through 13 December 2026.
The presentation includes works by Derek Jarman, Linder, Nina Sten-Knudsen, Cornelia Schleime, Die Tödliche Doris and Ajamu X. According to ARoS, most of the works have not previously been shown in Scandinavia. The exhibition’s scope follows punk from its origins in London to the ways its visual and social language was adapted in other cultural environments.
At the centre of the exhibition is the body as a site of resistance, identity and artistic expression. ARoS describes ‘Disobedient. The Body in Punk’ as an examination of how punk brought art, fashion, music and performance together in opposition to prevailing social norms. The works and narratives on view address the body not only as a physical presence, but also as an artistic and political statement.
The exhibition connects artists working across different media and cultural contexts. Derek Jarman’s film and visual work, Linder’s practice, Nina Sten-Knudsen’s art, Cornelia Schleime’s work, the activities of the German collective Die Tödliche Doris and Ajamu X’s photography appear within a presentation concerned with punk’s movement between disciplines. The museum’s description places particular emphasis on the way the movement mutated as it travelled, with Berlin’s subcultures identified as a significant site of development.
ARoS will also offer public programming related to the exhibition. A 45-minute Sunday tour scheduled for 27 September 2026 will introduce visitors to ‘Disobedient. The Body in Punk’ and focus on the movement’s use of the body in relation to rebellion, identity and artistic practice. The tour will consider how punk’s combination of art, fashion, music and performance challenged social conventions, while examining selected works and accounts from the exhibition.
The tour begins at 3 p.m. on 27 September at ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Aros Allé 2, Aarhus. Admission to the tour is listed at 25 Danish kroner for annual-pass holders and 50 kroner for other visitors, in addition to museum admission. ‘Disobedient. The Body in Punk’ remains on view at ARoS through 13 December 2026.
