Thursday, April 08, 2021

Queer Room: Pang im Arschloch-Training

One of my top students at Malmö Art Academy in Sweden Ms. Maria Norrman has an exciting new exhibition that opens soon. If you are in the Scandic environ you owe it to yourself to see it.

Maria Norrman - Jane Avril 10 - 30 April 2021Galleri Ping-Pong, Malmö, Sweden

Opening hours:
Wednesday-Friday: 12-17
Saturday: 12-16
Sundays 13-16 NOTE: Extra Sunday open during this exhibition.

The exhibition at Galleri Ping-Pong shows the project Jane Avril which revolves around my relationship with the historical person Jane Avril (1868-1943), a French dance artist mostly known today through the posters of her friend Toulouse-Lautrec.

When I was 15 years old I saw a photograph of Jane Avril in a book about Toulouse-Lautrec's art. It was a striking sense of affinity, as if I had found a soulmate or a reflection of myself from another time. Jane Avril had her own artistic expression and an exciting life story.

I became obsessed with her and I tried to bridge time and space. I strived to get to know her world through studies and performance. I wanted to connect with her using clothes and style. One method I used was to regularly dress in 1890s style clothes that I sewed myself, as everyday clothing.

I did a cancan performance in high school. Using movement, I sought a fusion between me and her that I felt arose when I lost myself in the dance.

After graduating from high school in 2006, I went to Paris and visited places connected to Jane Avril and wore her clothes throughout my stay. She has been in my life for more than 18 years and serves as a dear friend, a spirit and a source of inspiration.

A few years ago, I decided to actively resume the artistic work around the relationship. Experiences and new sources had given me a deeper understanding of her dance method. She put herself in a trance, improvised movements and became one with them.

In a performance for camera, I summoned her and recreated two of her dances. When I saw the result, it was like seeing her. I have also recreated more of her clothes, stayed in Paris where I took cancan lessons, I revisited places connected to Jane Avril and searched in archives for traces of her.

The exhibition shows works from 2004 up to the present for the first time. The exhibition consists of video installations, a video essay, video stills, photography and texts. Several works in the exhibition sum up the relationship and the project, with space for my relationship with Jane Avril to continue.
Maria Norrman 2021

Maria Norrman's art relates to how clothes, body, identities and gender are perceived and received. She explores the meeting between her and other people's fantasies. The works examine why we fantasize and create images around topics such as gender, history and sexuality. Norrman works mainly with video and photography. She also works with costume, clothing, performance and installation.

Norrman was born in 1987 and graduated with an MFA from Malmö Art Academy in 2013. She is a member of the artist-run Gallery CC in Malmö and works as a drag artist under the name Millennium Star. Norrman has previously exhibited at Udstillingsstedet Sydhavn Station, Copenhagen, 2020, Lorensborgs köpcentrum with Gallery Extra, 2019, Gotlands konstmuseum, Visby, 2017, and was awarded a 2-year work grant from Konstnärsnämnden 2019.

www.marianorrman.net
www.instagram.com/c.maria.norrman/?hl=en

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The wooly and wonderous Lobster Lady Rebecca Goyette is at it again:


Hello Friends, Colleagues and Lobsta Lovahs:

So thrilled to present you with a multimedia experience, "My Snake Is Bigger Than Your Snake" at Freight+Volume Gallery. The gallery will be hosting a proper opening April 15th from 6-9 PM, I look forward to celebrating with you all! Please RSVP: aya@freightandvolume.com

Also, check out a sneak peak of the "My Snake" film to premiere April 15th:

My Snake Is Bigger Than Your Snake Trailer

Air hugs and elbow bumps,
Rebecca




Witchy Cat Tarot is here! Mermaid Dolls/Patron Raffle/ Prints/ Super Moon


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The latest in the postcard series by Sherry Milner and Ernie Larson: