ABJECT
Everything that flows between body and abyss
The term abject describes something that is, in principle, natural and familiar, but is experienced as repulsive when removed from its usual context. A classic example is body parts – perfectly natural when viewed as part of the body, but often evocative of discomfort or disgust when separated from the whole.
In the exhibition Abject – Everything that flows between body and abyss, the members of the artist collective A Female Gaze have interpreted and created photographs based on the concept of the abject. The philosopher, linguist, and psychoanalyst Julia Kristeva (b. 1941) explains the psychological dimension of the concept as being the brain’s reluctance to move beyond predictability, comfort, and society’s preference for visual impressions, both in art and in life in general.
Human brains are highly sensitive, and overwhelming impressions can trigger immediate, almost animalistic reactions - especially when something seems abnormal, dirty, or dangerous. Unlike the satisfaction we feel when beauty and order bring aesthetic pleasure, the abject creates unease and friction. Yet this reaction can shift: once we learn what an unsettling image actually is, the initial disgust fades as the brain rationalises it. What remains is a double experience - instinctive revulsion alongside logical understanding - and it is in this tension between sense and thought, instinct and reflection, that the abject becomes most compelling.
The exhibition will be shown in three venues in Norway: at the National Gallery during the photo festival Oslo Negativ, as well as exhibitions at Trondhjems Kunstforening and Fredrikstad Kunstforening. The individual projects in the exhibition address themes such as women as dangerous mythical figures, bodily fluids, voluntary and involuntary violence, life and death.
This exhibition is produced by a group of female photographers from diverse social backgrounds, ages, and photographic expressions. Our collective goal is to amplify the awareness of age-old societal problems as well as new ones confronting us today, through our individual voices.
The exhibition will be shown in 3 venues:
National Gallery, Oslo, during the photo festival Oslo Negativ, October 11 – 26, 2025
Trondhjem Kunstforening, February 5 – March 29, 2026
Fredrikstad Kunstforening, May 30 – June 14, 2026
About A Female Gaze
The purpose of A Female Gaze is to increase the visibility of, and opportunities for development, for the work of female artists working with photography. The artist collective was founded in 2020 by Charlotte Wiig and consists of a group of Oslo-based female photographers of varied ages and backgrounds. Each year the group chooses a theme, to which they each develop individual artworks. The composition of the group varies somewhat from year to year but consistently includes around ten female photographers connected to Norway who are engaged in professional photographic and artistic practice.
This year’s members are:
Charlotte Wiig, Elen Sonja Klouman, Erle Kyllingmark, Janne Amalie Svit, Margaret de Lange, Maya Økland, Paulina Tamara Cid, Rebecca Zeller, Sara Skorgan Teigen, Trine Hisdal, and Yina Chan.
