NormAll: A graduated scale of gender
Matthijs Holland explores gender identity in his photographic series, NormALL. In a remarkable feat of disguise the artist manages to impersonate pharoah, pope and even geisha.
We displayed the series last September for the London Design Festival and thought it was high-time we gave it a spot on the blog.
The series contains five portraits depicting men and women throughout history who have transcended gender norms: the female pharoah, Hatshepsut; Pope Joan who allegedly disguised herself as a man to become the only ‘she-pope’ in history; Segawa Kikunojo III, a famous Japanese male actor who played female roles with particular flair; as well as Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, author of ‘I Am My Own Wife’, and Henry III of France who is thought to have engaged in same sex relations with his court favourites.
Matthijs hopes to give a voice to men and women across the world who face intimidation and persecution for being gay or transgender. After all, femininity and masculinity are social definitions. What about those of us who don’t fit inside the mould?
For further details on the portraits please email us at info@mintshop.co.uk
Matthijs Holland NormAll, Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, pigment ink on paper 62 x 91 cm
Matthijs Hollands ‘NormAll’ portraits on display at Mint.
‘Every sex is enclosed by a strict socially imposed norm. Masculinity belongs to the man and femininity to the woman. Everything that falls outside of this measure does not belong to the bigger majority and is unfamiliar territory. The unknown does not fit into the social straitjacket and can not be placed anymore. Because of that it causes fear and rejection with the greater number. Dominant women are being attacked in their femininity and sensitive men are not seen as ‘real men’. People whose gender role do not fit the social imposed norm have to justify themselves to society. However between the stereotype of a man and the stereotype of a woman lies a broad spectrum that gradually blends together and falls outside of the norm.’
Matthijs Holland NormAll, Segawa Kikunojo III, pigment ink on paper 62 x 91 cm
‘If you look back in history you will again and again find historical figures that were standing outside the social convention. The timeline of portraits shows five inspiring examples that each in their own way could not conform to the prescribed expectations. Hatshepsut that in a male dominated world did the unthinkable and crowned herself as pharaoh. Pope Joan who by disguising herself as a man could escape the female straitjacket of the Middle Ages and be acknowledged in her talents. The Japanese actor Segawa Kikunojo III who was so feminine that he became the role model for Geishas. Or Henry III of France and Charlotte von Mahlsdorf that each in their own time chose to step outside of the expected gender roles to truly be themselves.’
Matthijs Holland NormAll, Hatshepsut, pigment ink on paper 62 x 91 cm
‘They at their time, and even now, break through the social imposed norm. All these figures from the past did not fit the role that was created for them. They could not conform themselves to these restrictions and broke free from these norms.’
Matthijs Holland NormAll, Pope Joan, pigment ink on paper 62 x 91 cm
‘They show us that questioning gender is not something that only belongs to our time but has always been an issue. It has always been there. The norm in regard to gender is much to limited and not realistic.
But where are we standing now as to gender in the 21st century? In many places in the world women still have to fight for a voice, feminine men and homosexuals are being attacked with violence or even punished with death and transgender people still are being seen as a curiosity.’
Matthijs Holland NormAll, Henry III of France, pigment ink on paper 62 x 91 cm