In The Man’s Nest a Woman’s Cage Norberg employs the repeated movements of glass blowing in a performance speaking of imbued gender roles, dating from the Victorian era, yet still existing in our society. The structure is a Victorian crinoline, and as the title alludes to, Norberg uses it as a metaphore of the entrapment of fashion ideals women are subjected to.
The female "fashion victim" is trapped spinning the crinoline around her body as three male (macho) glassblowers are constantly applying hot glass to the crinoline. The glass got pulled into a thin thread, the same process as spinning wool, thus wrapping the woman in hot glass.The crinoline structure and a bucket she was standing inside, protected her from getting burnt by the hot glass.
The Man’s Nest a Woman’s Cage was performed with loud electronic music playing, making the performers move in rhythm to the beat of the music. The music also allowed the viewers to reach a "trance" state and endure the performance which literally repeated itself for 20 minutes.
The crinoline was later exhibited covered with glass thread together with a video from the performance, edited in a endless loop.
