Under the title BEYOND GENDERS, this exhibition project proposes a review of feminist artistic practices in Galicia, though a selection of works from around 50 creators of both sexes who are connected with Galicia, and which —with the exception of the pieces created at the end of the nineteen seventies by Roberto González Fernández (Monforte de Lemos, 1948), a pioneer in raising the prominence of the homosexual community in Spain— have been produced since the nineteen nineties.

The proposal brings together pieces from different artists, in some cases lesser known artists and/or newly exhibited works, grouped by thematic and conceptual issues, apart from chronological criteria, since the aim is to map out a discourse which conveniently outlines the different trends and contributions to contemporary art from the multiple strands of the feminist movement. Beyond Genders includes works by both women and men, eschewing the cliché of feminist art being the sole preserve of women, incorporating male artists working with a gender and/or queer perspective.

Beyond Genders explores and examines the plurality of aspects in feminist art, lending prominence to younger generations, linking them with the work of mores established artists, making it possible to contextualise artistic work which addresses gender issues within Galician, Spanish, and International parameters. In turn, the show builds bridges between artistic productions and social and political protest movements, such as feminist and LGTBQI (Lesbian, Gays, Transsexuals, Bisexuals, Queers and Intersexuals) activist groups.

The installation is structured into three main thematic blocks: the relationship between the feminine and the feminist; a review of the concept of masculinity; and, lastly, bodies and queer sexuality (an English term employed as a homophobic insult, and which has been re-appropriated from the different types of feminism to defend anti-regulatory ideas on gender identities). These categories overlap each other; they should not be considered hermetic or exclusive, as there are artists who shift from one to another, or who even address all three themes.

The dialogue between the works allows the emergence of essential themes in the feminist struggle, such as women's bodies and their sexuality, relationships between couples, maternity, sexist violence, gender roles, the dichotomy between domestic and public space, the relationship with female ancestors, magic rituals linked with feminine spirituality, among others. The first thematic block also allows a reflection on the role of the female artist.

With regard to the queer theory, the exhibition poses a number of questions around desire, bodies and lesbian, gay and transgender sexuality. It is suggested that masculinity and femininity are understood as a sham, or as a representation of codes. Also highlighted is gender perfomativity; i.e., the claim that genders and sexual identities are sociocultural constructions and, thus, transformable.

Along with the works on display, Beyond Genders includes supplementary documentation on artistic practices. Accordingly, also present in the exhibition are leading Galician feminist magazines, such as Andaina and A festa da palabra silenciada, along with information concerning feminist and LGTBQI activism. Since the mid-1970s, the first feminist groups, such as AGM (Galician Women's Association), and LGBT collectives have mobilised in Galicia in favour of equal rights and in defence of sexual liberty. Since the end of the 1990s, the World March of Women has been one of the most representative and unifying movements for the different trends. Special attention is given in the exhibition to queer collectives that employee artistic language as a political tool, with Maribolhèras precàrias, Lerchas, Mulheres Transgredindo and Nomepisesofreghao being some examples of this, along with the young group, Queer Avengers.

Over these months, the exhibition will generate a number of parallel activities. Coinciding with the celebration of International Women's Day, on 8 March, three audio-visual sessions will be programmed addressing issues concerning women’s professional setting, and there will be screenings of films from the artists participating in the exhibition, such as María Ruido, Uqui Permui, Xoán Anleo, Claudia Brenlla and Xisela Franco. There will also be a number of stage proposals, combining performance, theatre and dance from a gender perspective. This programme gets under way on the opening day, with a session where Félix Fernández will be presenting his DJ set (DE)GENERADXS in the guise of his musical alter ego, JËAN FIXX, on top of which there will be a live performance from EDU (Eduardo Fernández), with the presentation of his video Chica de la coru, a piece which is also included in the exhibition.

At the same time, the MARCO's Library-Documentation centre will be hosting a bibliographic exhibition, conceived as additional documentation, and which features a selection of texts, publications and catalogues with information on feminist artistic practices and the different themes addressed in the exhibition.

The project's graphic image—work of the Santiago-based designer, Uqui Permui—is inspired by Do it Yourself aesthetics, characteristic of self-management and activist communication, and prominent in which is the use of lambda (λ) as the international symbol of the LGTBQI movement.