World Museum Leiden, Dec. 21, 2024 – Oct. 26, 2025

With more than 436 objects ranging from historical artifacts to contemporary artworks by 19 artists from 10 different countries, the exhibition Under the spell of GOLD explores the duality of this metal: how it both connects and dazzles, and how it both admires and divides.

As part of Religious Gold, both Skeleton / Self-Portrait 20 and Declaration of Sanctity / Self-Portrait 20 on view.

“In all times and cultures, gold has a divine significance. Gold is not only rare and therefore precious, it also does not rust. It symbolizes purity and eternity. Caspar Berger makes conceptual art in which current events and art history play a major role. In it, the self-portrait and his own body are often the starting point for works of art that address themes of freedom, mortality and political (belief) systems.

For the Skeleton / Self-Portrait 20 project, he had an exact copy of his right upper arm made via a high-tech CT scanner. Via a 3D printer, this was then reproduced and cast in 18 karat solid gold. A relic by life: not the holder is gold, but the bone itself.

A year later, a notary passes a deed in which Berger, based on his own testimony, declares himself holy. His birthday counts as a holiday from then on. After all, what makes someone holy? Collective fantasies, miracles or perhaps a notarized deed?“