ERROR: gender is an art installation with live performances. As an audience you are welcomed into our Hub; a safe and tactile space where you can explore art, talk about what you are seeing, or just hang around and enjoy the atmosphere. 
 

About the project

ERROR: gender opened in 2021 at the Arctic Arts Festival in Harstad in Northern Norway, it was situated in the middle of the city centre and was open from 14-21 for the entire seven days of the festival, with 18 happenings throughout the week. It is set to open in Reykjavik in Iceland and in Muhos in Northern Finland during 2024/2025.

 

The goal of the project is to use art as a way of bridging gaps in conversations about gender, sex, bodies and sexuality. We have several strategies for reaching out to the audience, and artistic experiences is one of the foremost strategies we use. The main arena of the project is a dome shaped tent that we refer to as the Hub, constructed by Maxim Narbrough in collaboration with scenographer Ingvill Fossheim in Finland.

 

Situated in public space, the Hub quickly garners interest from passers-by, becoming a natural place to drop by during an outing in the city. We  had many visitors dropping by to explore the space when it opened in Harstad, both babies, families with young children, older people and youths, and we had several interesting conversations through the week ERROR:gender was open. The placement of ERROR: gender in the middle of the city created an intimate and closed space within the public space, where conversations and thoughts about topics that might be considered ”taboo” were welcomed. 

Conversation starters 

There are two performers in the Hub at any given time who can greet visitors, tell them about the project and answer questions. There are also conversational cards with facts, questions or thought provoking information about gender, bodies and sexuality. These are placed throughout the space and are well used by the people visiting ERROR: gender. The ”Silent Disco Lectures” were also geared towards creating discussions and conversations about art - a 20-30 minutes artist talk followed by 15 minutes of silent disco. The format has worked really well, and facilitates several interesting discussions with the audience. 
 

Happenings

Whenever ERROR:gender is open, there will be several different happenings throughout the opening period, both online and physically in the space. In addition to these, we have different exhibitions every day. Some one the things you can experience in the exhibitions are audio works, video works, photographs, collectible cards or literary excerpts. Some days have specific themes; in Harstad the opening day had menstruation as a theme (”You had an orgasm and we forgot to throw you a party”), and the closing day had orgasms as a theme. 
 

Link to performance ”Bodies meet matter”

Link to video about ”Story Circle”  

Link to workshop performance ”Linedance With Me”

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Supported by

- 2024 Nordic Culture Point

- 2023 Nordic Culture Fund

- 2023 Fond for utøvende kunstnere

- 2023 Norsk-Finsk Kulturfond

- 2022 Norsk Kulturråd, Formidling/gjestespill
- 2021 Residency at Dansearena Nord with project funding
- 2021 Residency at Figurteatret i Nordland with project funding
- 2020 KORO

- 2020 Norsk Kulturråd, Fri Scenekunst Dans 

- 2020 Fond for lyd og bilde 

- 2020 Norsk Kulturråd, Norsk-Islandsk Kultursamarbeid 
- Norsk Kulturråd - Kunstnerstipend for yngre nyetablerte kunstnere

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Upcoming performances: 

- 2024/2025 Lókal International Theater Festival, Reykjavik, Iceland
- 2024/2025 Muhos Lifestyle Festival, Finland
- 2025 Tvibit, Tromsø

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Has played: 

- 2021 Arctic Arts festival, Harstad, Norway

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