Blog Post:
Menstruation has been a taboo topic for far too long, with women and girls feeling ashamed and embarrassed to talk about their periods. This stigma has led to a lack of education and understanding about menstruation, perpetuating harmful myths and beliefs. However, in recent years, there has been a rise in a powerful form of expression that challenges these stigmas and celebrates the beauty and strength of menstruation – menstrual art.
Menstrual art is a form of creative expression that uses menstruation as its subject matter. It can take many forms, including paintings, sculptures, installations, performance art, and photography. The purpose of menstrual art is to challenge societal norms and start a conversation about periods, breaking the stigma and creating a space for open and honest dialogue.
Menstrual Art: Breaking Stigmas Through Creativity
One of the most significant barriers to talking openly about menstruation is the shame and embarrassment that surrounds it. From a young age, girls are taught to hide their periods, to keep it a secret and not to discuss it in public. This secrecy only perpetuates the stigma, making it difficult for girls and women to seek support and information when needed. Menstrual art aims to break this cycle by bringing periods out of the shadows and into the light.
One of the pioneers of menstrual art is Rupi Kaur, a Canadian poet and artist whose work focuses on the female experience, including menstruation. In 2015, Kaur posted a photo on Instagram of herself lying in bed with a menstrual stain on her pants and sheets. The post was removed by Instagram twice, citing violation of community guidelines. However, Kaur’s post sparked a conversation about censorship and the shame surrounding menstruation. It also led to the creation of her series “Period,” which featured illustrations and poems about menstruation, reclaiming the narrative and putting periods at the forefront of her art.
Another artist who uses menstrual blood as her medium is Jen Lewis. Her series “Beauty in Blood” features portraits made entirely of menstrual blood. Through her art, Lewis challenges the idea that menstrual blood is dirty and disgusting, showing that it can be beautiful and powerful. She also uses her work to educate people about menstruation, using the hashtag #periodpositive to encourage open and honest conversations.
Menstrual art is not limited to visual mediums; it also includes performance art. In 2014, artist and activist Kiran Gandhi ran the London Marathon while free-bleeding to raise awareness about period shame and the lack of access to menstrual products for girls and women in developing countries. This act of defiance sparked a global conversation about periods, with Gandhi stating, “I