Given the response to the small figurine, I began to dream of a life-sized version of this sculpture! It was important to me that the process of making it build community among folks who recognize themselves in it, and for there to be a public engagement component in the final product. The project was about the sculpture, but it’s also about those who make it, and those who view it, and interact/identify with it.

The models/collaborators will represent all sorts of people who have experienced what it's like to exist in bodies that are alienated from their physical autonomy and rights, through bureaucracy, outdated backwards policy, medical institutions, academia and more.

The project was supported in part by the Maine Arts Commission.

The Life-Sized Collaborative Sculpture

The Tampon Insertion life-sized sculpture is made up of 19 menstruating bodies, across generations, race and genders. They’ve contributed their bodies and stories in an effort to reclaim knowledge and raise awareness through sharing our experiences in their diversity. Art shifts culture and we aim to normalize sharing and singing our bodily sovereignty and empowerment, however that may look for each of us.  We are the only human beings with the ability to open a gateway to the universe and invite new spirits in. Patriarchal and white supremicist institutions of power have weaponized ignorance, stigma, and shame to ensure we do not step fully into our power. Living as our most authentic selves, bringing the hidden into the open, connecting with our bodies, and expressing our truth serves a higher good, and subverts harmful systems of oppression.

19 people had one body part cast in plaster. Each person decorated their own body part in fabric, then I painted all the pieces to give a more uniform appearance. I assembled the pieces and coated them in resin to create the final figure. The sculpture is exhibited with video footage of the casting sessions taking place, as well as audio recordings of stories from models about what it’s been like to live in their body. Our sculpture community has gathered regularly to create sharing circles and safe spaces for discussion of topics that feel healing to bring out in the open. Sharing our stories and experiences widely is part of our collective healing work.

Here is the original text explaining why I made the small figurine above. I invite others to interact with it through their own personal experiences in their own bodies:

Tampons and other inserts were always traumatic for me. It felt like what the patriarchy wanted: a stopper, a plug so that I could go on performing their social norms and sacrifice my days to the wealth of small white men.

I knew how to hide my period, but I didn’t even understand my cycle or what was happening within me.

Im no longer performing social norms. I free bleed, I honor my cycle with guilt-free rest, i’m not disgusted by my own body in its natural hairy state anymore, i feel no need to apologize or excuse myself for passing natural gases, and i will not stay in conversations or situations that i don’t want to be in out of “politeness”.

Here is a visceral reminder that people with wombs menstruate, and are punished for it. Our power is tremendous, and world-building. To a patriarchy, it’s terrifying and must be controlled— through keeping us ignorant about our bodies, through laws taking away our autonomy over our bodies, and through social norms that punish us if we don't conform to unrealistic beauty standards.

For Black and Brown people with wombs, control can also mean lack of access to health care services, poorer birth outcomes due to racist medical institutions, and forced or coerced sterilization.

This statue is an angry reaction to attempts of control and manipulation over my body. And it’s hurt (all anger is really hurt). Now that i honor my womb energy, i mourn the dark yrs spent shaving, plucking, hiding and hating myself. This statue is defiant healing.

This project includes a story-sharing component. If you’d like to contribute a story (to be shared online), you can submit via this link (it is possible to submit anonymously).

You can follow the process of the sculpture build, and view the shared stories on instagram @haleylinnetart