Act Naturally is our latest group exhibit, focusing on oxymorons. It will be first shown at the Oslo Negativ fotofestival 12-27 October.

For their latest exhibition, the artist collective, A Female Gaze, has chosen to highlight oxymorons. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory and often incongruous elements with the effect of creating an illogical, but invariably relatable new meaning. 

It is these contradictions and the layers of meaning within that we are exploring with this project. We inhabit an increasingly polarized world and contradiction surrounds us. Tolerance and acceptance are on the rise, at the same time that cancel culture and public accountability through social pressure are at an all-time high. By many measures, the world has never been so peaceful and prosperous. Yet our awareness of the horrors and crises that do exist consumes us. Fake news and virtual reality are examples of the dissonance by which we are surrounded.

The use of oxymorons as a literary tool has been around since the Greeks. They can be found in everything from the Bible to the work of William Shakespeare to Ernest Hemmingway, highlighting the inherent contradictions in the human condition. We are exposed to the contradictory nature of cultural and societal expectations and messaging. Be powerful, but not threatening, Be strong, but also dependent. Be beautiful, without deviating from the standard. Be youthful, by whatever means necessary, but make it appear natural. 

The artworks in the exhibition deal with themes such as gender roles, the environment, societal expectations, menopause, youth, heritage, fear, tradition, endurance, health, strength, and playfulness through the lens of linguistic paradoxes.

Participating artists are Charlotte Wiig, Elen Sonja Klouman, Erle Kyllingmark, Maya Økland, Rebecca Zeller, Sara Skorgan Teigen, Signe Luksengard, Tine Poppe, Trine Hisdal, and Yina Chan

made possible with the generous support of