Arno Verbruggen - SODOM

SODOM is een herinterpretatie van het Bijbelse verhaal van Sodom en Gomorra, dat de vraag stelt of de betekenis en identiteit van het verhaal overeind blijft als het door een hedendaags, inclusief perspectief wordt verteld. Arno Verbruggen daagt diepgewortelde hedendaagse stigma’s over genderrollen en seksualiteit uit door zich Bijbelse iconografie toe te eigenen en te herinterpreteren. (Engels en Frans gesproken).

SODOM is a multidisciplinary solo performance blending dance, theatre, fashion, and visual design to challenge queer stigmatisation entrenched in religious narratives by deconstructing stereotypes and prompting societal reconsideration.

Divided into three parts—Distress, Emancipation, and Sacrament—the performance explores and questions gender norms while engaging viewers through momentary participation. Through reinterpretation and reclamation of Christian and Biblical symbols, the project challenges beliefs and convictions still deeply rooted in today’s societal consciousness. Central to this exploration is the character's transition from Distress to Emancipation, visually represented through scenography and costume design. These elements play a pivotal role in visualising the reinterpretation of biblical imagery, from gargoyle to an angelic figure.

The multidisciplinary approach, incorporating modern technology alongside historical references, ensures both thematic and visual coherence, creating a contemporary vision that challenges traditional perceptions.

About Arno Verbruggen Arno Verbruggen (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Brussels, specializing in directing, performing, and choreographing. Their artistic expression transcends across multiple artistic mediums, integrating movement, text, sound, and fashion to craft immersive experiences. Arno prioritises social collaboration primarily through engagement with diverse individuals, particularly within the queer community. They emphasise active environmental responsibility, through the repurposing of materials from established theatres and museums for scenographic elements.

Following their graduation from Codarts University of the Arts (Rotterdam) in 2019, Arno began collaborating across Europe, particularly within the Dutch landscape, notably working alongside Maison the Faux (Arnhem), Club Guy&Roni/Nite (Groningen), Maas Theater&Dans (Rotterdam), MU (Eindhoven), Action Zoo Humain/Chokri Ben Chikha (Ghent), and Romeo Castellucci (Brussels) amongst others.