Noah Holtegaard towards their final form
Danish non-binary artist Noah Holtegaard just crossed a significant threshold in their life: An exhibition of the last works produced in their estrogenic body.
»The past few years, my art has existed in a magical childhood universe and has dealt a lot with dreams of transforming the body.
But now, with me starting testosterone soon, and with that my second puberty, I’m planning a shift in my art as well. My narrative will go on from a childhood fairytale to a pubescent teenage story.«
23-year-old Noah Holtegaard reflects on the next phase of their life and artistic practice. The two are intimately connected.
»My solo exhibition will be the final chapter of that period in my practice and will be a kind of transgender adventure. I can send you the press release.«
We are four weeks away from the exhibition at Udstillingsstedet Q, an exhibition space at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts where Noah studies for their MFA. The exhibition is called ‘dengang jeg blev mig’ – Danish for ‘when I became me’.
The press release sets the stage:
»Imagine a world shrouded in mica dust where everything is magical and anything is possible. In the midst of beautiful, undefinable landscapes reminiscent of childhood fairytales, artist Noah Holtegaard […] has created a digital, utopian and embracing universe with space for you to be exactly who you are. It has room for you to play and explore and maybe even find your true self.«
Noah elaborates:
»It is a collection of works from the past three years of my life. I was lucky to have Rosemarie Kamp Schubert help curate it. She saw the overall narrative of the works put together: An origin story.«
We agree to continue our talk after Noah’s exhibition.