REFRACT PRESENTS:
BODIES WE BORROW

An exhibition about the negotiations of the body and queer identity.

About the exhibition

The exhibition BODIES WE BORROW explores how the body is shaped, interpreted, and negotiated in relation to gaze, language, norms, and needs.

In a queer context, the body is rarely a neutral or private matter; it is continuously categorized and regulated by the outside world — while also being actively used as a form of expression, a shield, and a tool for transformation. Through submissions received via an open call, the exhibition shows how identity emerges in the tension between self-definition and external readings.

We examine the body as something unstable and negotiated — not as a fixed core, but as a surface where identity is continuously created, read, and rewritten. Here, the performative nature of gender and the situational aspect of identity are made visible through a diversity of artistic perspectives.

The concept: Borrowed shells

The physical framework of the exhibition serves as a direct metaphor for the social frameworks we must navigate. By using fixed industrial formats (50x50 cm and 100x100 cm), a strict visual dialogue is created between photography, video, text, and performance.

In this context, the artistic content becomes the core of the work, while the physical panels function as “borrowed shells” or temporary bodies for the duration of the exhibition. This reinforces the theme of the body as something we inhabit, borrow, and transform.

Practical information

We look forward to welcoming the audience to this exploration in the heart of Trondheim.

Date: September 2026
Venue: Elsa Laula Renbergs plass, Trondheim
Accessibility: Available for everyone

Stay updated

While we count down to the opening and finalize the venue, you can follow our process behind the scenes. Here we share artist presentations, glimpses of the works, and updates about the exhibition.

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“Do we actually fully own our bodies?”