Transversal revisited

In 2013 I participated in a project that some art students in Trondheim had. They asked for contributions to a zine called Transversal with the theme gender and art. I always intended to post my contribution here, but never got around to it. Now I’m using the two poems in a little animation that I hope to exhibit with the Queer Artists here in Oslo in June. So it seems about time to finally publish the originals here.

Other contributors were BANG Magazine (SE), Ane Lan (NO), Karolina Bang (SE), Christine Jentoft (NO), Constanze Ruhm (DE), Tobias Bernstrup (SE), Kakan Hermansson (SE), Wencke Mühleisen (NO), Luca Dalen Espseth (NO), EVA & ADELE (DE), Kate Bornstein (US), Renate Lorenz & Pauline Boudry (DE), Yvonne P. Doderer (DE), Tiina Rosenberg (FI), Synnøve G. Wetten (NO), Deniz Akin (TR), Nevruz Ebru Aksu (TR), P*fect (SE), Andy Candy (SE), Stine H. B. Svendsen (NO), Ane Gabrielsen (NO), Roxy Farhat, EJ Hill & Sara Cromarty (SE/US), Fender Schrade (DE), og Micheline Bjernudd (SE).

(I’ve neglected my English speaking friends for too long, sorry. I chose to write this post in English also because the poems here are in English (for this occation at least).)

Exciting new year!

I’ve finally got some work done on translating my poems to english! We are a group working in Google docs. It is a great experience and I’ve learned more about the english language these past few days than I ever did in one school year.

The last year, I was ill a lot and had so many concerns about non-literary things. Now I finally feel ready to write and let my texts meet the public again. One of the most rewarding experiences of 2012 was a visit to a highschool/college (don’t know what word best describe the Norwegian «videregående»). The students sat spellbound for two hours, listening to my reading and talk. They also asked a lot of questions, about both writing and transgender issues.

I think I need to make the writing and publishing of a new book of poems my priority this year. Although I love the publisher of Frikar and Framandkar, I probably have to look for another one for the third book in this triology. And then there is this more concept-poetry idea that I’ve been working on.

I’m also exploring other art forms; acrylic painting and performance. Poetry is for me more than a form, more like a feeling, a need to express.

All of these exciting things would never be possible without my good friends. Thank you!

True love: Ben Cuevas

I’ve fallen in love. Fortunately, it’s the polyamorous kind of love towards art. When you see something and it fits perfectly in your mind. Like an image of something you could not describe yourself. The picture of a thought that had no form – until now. It’s a wonderful feeling.

My first love was Marit Victoria Wulff Andreassen with her drawing «Morning glory», that made the cover of my first collection of poetry, Framandkar. Then came Magritte’s «Boudoir», Frida Kahlo’s «The broken Column» , Lenora Carrington, and Nicholas Hlobo.

Now I’ve found Ben Cuevas.

«For this project I sat nude in a men’s locker room and knit myself a jock strap,» he writes on his blog. I just have to love a man who comes up with the idea and actually does it! And it doesn’t harm the performance that he looks very good… He has also knitted some genitals that I find quite familiar.

And his answer to the question «Do contemporary artists have to be naked to show their truth? No, but it’s more fun if they are!» made me laugh out loud.

More inspiration

Distraction by Jana Sterbak

Penis Gun by Jonathan Aidukonis

 

Dónde Están? by Ivan Navarro

Bound to be free by Peter Callesen

Visual art

Klar til å sette pennene i deg

My fading past

 

Fra noter til visuell poesi

Det hele begynte med at jeg lette etter måter å lære dattera mi å spille keyboard uten at jeg må lære det selv først. Etter å ha funnet noen tips, søkte jeg videre etter tips til stemmebruk og deretter til diktopplesning. Det var slik jeg havna på One Night Stanzas og etter hvert deres innføring i visuell poesi.Sjekk også ut Fluxus.

I need an orthopedic black tie

I’m reading an analysis of Leonora Carringtons self-portraits by Sissel Lie. The first portrait is the best known:

The last is less known, but it is the focus of my text:

Almost ready for Transfabulous!

I’m very excited! This weekend will be my first trip to London. I’m invited to keep a workshop (actually a speak and reading poetry) at this fabulous festival for transart. The title of my workshop is «My body is my logo», a quotation from Framandkar.

I’ve worked on translating a lot of my poems the past few days and realize that I should have done it a long time ago. As you may have discovered; I don’t write english flawlessly… I’m doing my best. Hopefully someone will see the need to make better translations and publish some of it in english. And actually, I’m doing better at the translations than I thought I’d do originally.