Nora

Nora is the main character in Henrik Ibsen’s play ‘A doll’s house’ dating from 1879. Ibsen portrays Nora as a strong woman who breaks down social borders and does everything to achieve her goal of ultimate individual freedom. In the previous century Nora grew to become an icon of women’s emancipation. But the character of Nora is not exclusively relevant to the past. Her search for her own identity is timeless and possibly more relevant than ever. Moreover, her search is not exclusive to women. The character of Nora is far more universal than that of a character in a play and can represent anyone who feels a sense of social restriction. A less traditional gender identity could step into Nora’s shoes in a contemporary version of ‘A Doll’s House’.

In recent years, inter-sexuality has become a topic of growing social importance, though a lot of ignorance (still) currently exists among the public at large. As a result, groups who do not fall within the traditional man-woman category often encounter lack of understanding, discrimination and social exclusion. From this position, they feel they are up against brick walls that prevent them, for the moment, from achieving freedom. The freedom that we, as society, should guarantee.

The group exhibition Nora criticises the current belief that identity is unalterable. The exhibition’s ambition is to contribute, with its display of videos and installations, to increasing the visibility of gender diversity, making it primarily – like Ibsen’s play “A Doll’s House” – a plea for individual freedom.

Thanks to:

Mondriaan Fonds
M. Kunst Innovations