Whatever Happened to sex in Scandinavia?

'Whatever Happened to Sex in Scandinavia?' is a research project that consists of three platforms – an exhibition, a programme of public events and a publication – examining the juncture of the political and the erotic through the work of artists produced predominantly in the context of the countercultural movements of the 1960s and 70s. Part of OCA's Verksted series, the exhibition and public programme are the result of an extensive research project about the international perception of Scandinavia during the 1950s, 60s and 70s as a utopic region of socialism and sexual freedom. This project will introduce OCA's new premises at Nedre gate 7 in Oslo.

This project examines the historical roots of sex reform as a political initiative as analyzed by Herbert Marcuse in Eros and Civilization, and intends to purposefully open up and provoke questions about this history and related artistic and cultural production. The exhibition will be complemented by a series of screenings, lectures and seminars with participants such as filmmakers Jonas Mekas, co-founder of Film-Makers' Cooperative and Anthology Film Archives in New York City, MM Serra, director of the Film-Makers' Cooperative, and Nicky Hamlyn; artists Sanja Iveković, Carolee Schneemann and Barbara T. Smith; and historians Håvard Nilsen and Troels Andersen. They will be accompanied by special screening evenings featuring films by Stan Brakhage, Öyvind Fahlström, Jean Genet, Willard Maas, Anthony McCall, Yvonne Rainer, Barbara Rubin, Carolee Schneemann, Jack Smith, Mai Zetterling and others. A two-day seminar dedicated to discussing political radicalism, the socia l and identity construction and gender in the Scandinavian context will take place on the 21st and the 22nd of January at OCA. The schedule of speakers will be announced in early November.

'Whatever Happened
to Sex in Scandinavia?'
8 November 2008 - 1 February 2009

http://www.oca.no