ACT NATURALLY

Breaking up with expectations

In this year's edition of A Female Gaze, Maya Økland [she, her] shows two images from the collaboration project Refractions of Light, developed together with the poet and writer Wesam Almadani [he, him]. The project springs from Almadani's gender-affirming transition and the existential questions that arise from this process. With humor and wonder, Refractions of Light explores the challenges of being transgender, Muslim, Palestinian and a refugee, while navigating between different gender identities.

Through a synergy of visual and literary elements, the project creates a space for reflection on intersectionality and the expectations imposed by various cultural and social spheres. The desire to be oneself is something most can relate to, and this project is about the journey toward that goal.