
‘CAMOUFLAGE’ – an activist prêt-à-porter by Theatre 21 and a Drag Queen Performance by Frida Marida
Interart_s invites to an activist prêt-à-porter event featuring artists from Theatre 21 – a group of actors with Down syndrome and autism. They will showcase outfits created by three designers: Ishara Jayathilake from Sri Lanka, Magnus Opsahl Hofseth from Norway and Wisła Nicieja, a long-time collaborator with Theatre 21 from Poland. The designers have crafted outfits inspired by the theme of “camouflage,” which serves as the guiding principle.
In this interdisciplinary performance, blending elements of performance art, a fashion show and a concert, the musical accompaniment will be played by the Pokusa band.
Part of the event also includes a performance by Frida Marida – a Lebanese drag artist and speaker residing in Oslo. Frida’s artistic focus involves introducing oriental music into well-known international songs while addressing issues such as discrimination, racism and various social concerns.
The event is a part of the Show the Language programme, aimed at promoting social inclusion and equality for artists with disabilities.
Credits:
Concept and production: interart_s (Aleksandra Piotrowska, Karolina Lisik)
Direction: Justyna Wielgus
Dramaturgical collaboration: Justyna Lipko-Konieczna
Actors/models: Grzegorz Brandt, Anna Drózd, Teresa Foks, Maja Kowalczyk, Anna Łuczak, Aleksander Orliński, Michał Pęszyński, Piotr Sakowski, Aleksandra Skotarek, Marta Stańczyk, Piotr Swend, Magdalena Świątkowska, Cecylia Sobolewska
Designers: Ishara Jayathilake, Magnus Opsahl Hofseth, Wisła Nicieja
Set Design: Wisła Nicieja
Video: Wojciech Kaniewski
Lighting Direction: Sebastian Klim
Frida Marida’s drag queen show: Hani Asaaf
Supported by: Kulturdirektoratet – EEA and Norway Grants
Ishara Jayathilake was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1991. She completed her studies in fashion design at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom. In 2015, she showcased her collection on the international runway as a graduate during London Fashion Week. She later moved to Oslo to pursue further studies in fashion design at the National Academy of Arts in Oslo, earning a master’s degree in fashion and costume design. Her master’s project, titled “East Meets West,” was nominated for the annual Designers’ Nest Award Show 2020 in Copenhagen, which highlights the best Nordic fashion design graduates. Ishara has also created a fashion installation exploring the intersection of fashion and colonialism for the Absent Bodies exhibition at the Danish Design Museum in 2020 and for the Future Nordic Fashion exhibition curated by the Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
Magnus Opsahl Hofseth is a fashion designer and artist based in Oslo, Norway. He earned his bachelor’s degree in fashion and industry from Oslo Metropolitan University in 2019 and subsequently completed a master’s degree in fashion and society at OsloMet in 2021. He also completed a practical teaching course in art, design, and craftsmanship in 2022. Magnus delivers lectures on the history of queer fashion during Oslo Pride and exhibits his clothing at events like the Pride Art festival in Oslo. He currently works as an assistant designer for the esteemed Norwegian sportswear brand Norrøna.
Magnus’ work focuses on redefining the concept of men’s clothing. He enjoys blending references from both masculine and feminine styles to challenge traditional notions of men’s fashion in an accessible manner. His designs often incorporate themes such as toxic masculinity and queer history, with his clothing visually representing the contrast between functionality and extravagance. Magnus also enjoys experimenting with colors, considering them essential and inspirational for his projects. His master’s work, “Queer Clothes,” explored the connection and significance of clothing within LGBTQI+ Pride celebrations. As a result, he created a collection inspired by historical queer elements and modern pride collections, filtered through his unique design aesthetic.
Wisła Nicieja has been collaborating with Teatr 21 for 12 years, designing costumes for productions such as “Rewolucja, której nie było,” “Libido romantico,” “Rodzina,” “Superspektakl,” “Pokaz,” and “Jak przestałem być idealny.” Her costumes seamlessly blend theatricality with contemporary fashion design, expanding the boundaries of costume design and enhancing the visual aspect of the performances. Nicieja’s costumes are striking, often political, and remain sensitive to the voices of those who wear them.
Frida Marida is the Drag Personality, who while feminine, remains authentic and does not strive to be flawless. While her primary purpose is to entertain, Frida’s work often crosses multi-cultural lines with a unique window of self-expression. Using music, spoken words, and dance, Frida exudes the confidence for self-expressionism as she blurs lines between past, present and future – tackling personal and social experiences.
📸:: Kasia Mateja
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