Malmö artist Ruby Nilsson presents the performance piece 'Respawn' at Inkonst, challenging accusations of trans women as necrophilic intruders. The work draws on themes of immortality and gothic horror, inspired by a harsher climate for trans people. Dancer Liza Tegel embodies an immortal spirit that changes body and gender.
At Inkonst in Malmö, artist Ruby Nilsson is working on her new performance piece 'Respawn,' which explores the concept of immortality in relation to trans people's bodies. The title 'Respawn' comes from gaming and refers to enemies that resurrect after being killed. The work addresses accusations from trans-exclusionary feminism that trans women are necrophilic intruders on women's bodies, and Nilsson chooses to lean into these stereotypes.
'How do you kill a body that is immortal?', Nilsson asks in the piece.
Since Monday, she has been finalizing the production in Inkonst's basement, with a projector displaying the word 'resurrection' and white smoke filling the floor. The piece is about an immortal spirit summoner that changes body and gender and is now punished, with the character's last chance to defend itself. Dancer Liza Tegel performs the role, wearing a mask cast from Nilsson's face and a wig mimicking the artist's hair.
'Traces of me are everywhere, even if I myself am not visible,' says Nilsson.
The artist describes her work as a way to own the horror and gothic projected onto trans people. She mentions a shift in recent years toward a harsher climate for trans people globally.
'We are seeing the beginning of a global persecution of trans people,' she says.
Despite the dark theme, the piece ends with a message of hope: even if trans people die, they will return. Nilsson sees the art as therapy to cope with a nightmarish reality.
'I will lean into being the villain,' she says.
