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| Gallery aims to lift lid on taboo over menstruation | Gallery aims to lift lid on taboo over menstruation |
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| It is an integral part of every woman’s life, a natural function – and yet still often seen as a taboo subject. Now an unusual exhibition and multi-art form exhibition is examining the natural rhythms of women’s bodies and the menstrual cycle. | It is an integral part of every woman’s life, a natural function – and yet still often seen as a taboo subject. Now an unusual exhibition and multi-art form exhibition is examining the natural rhythms of women’s bodies and the menstrual cycle. |
| Called Period Piece, the show explores women’s bodies and their periods, involving poetry, film, art, holograms and a specially commissioned piece of music. It forms part of a series of pop-up events on the theme of blood being held at the new Science Gallery London, near London Bridge. The pop-ups are previewing the gallery’s work, which aims to encourage a dialogue between art and science, before it formally opens in 2018. | Called Period Piece, the show explores women’s bodies and their periods, involving poetry, film, art, holograms and a specially commissioned piece of music. It forms part of a series of pop-up events on the theme of blood being held at the new Science Gallery London, near London Bridge. The pop-ups are previewing the gallery’s work, which aims to encourage a dialogue between art and science, before it formally opens in 2018. |
| Period Piece is the brainchild of modern historian Alana Harris who is based at King’s College London. Harris wanted to explore the natural rhythms of women’s bodies and how people try to control them by working with them or using technology to manipulate them. She is particularly struck that the efforts of previous generations to control women’s reproduction – whether through basic technology such as condoms or a more complex, chemical methods such as the pill – are being increasingly rejected by young people, who are turning to fertility apps, which monitor temperature changes in the body caused by ovulation. | Period Piece is the brainchild of modern historian Alana Harris who is based at King’s College London. Harris wanted to explore the natural rhythms of women’s bodies and how people try to control them by working with them or using technology to manipulate them. She is particularly struck that the efforts of previous generations to control women’s reproduction – whether through basic technology such as condoms or a more complex, chemical methods such as the pill – are being increasingly rejected by young people, who are turning to fertility apps, which monitor temperature changes in the body caused by ovulation. |
| “The pill was once seen as liberation for women,” said Harris, “but my students are turning their back on it, concerned about its impact on their physical and mental health. It’s part of a new focus on clean eating and living.” | “The pill was once seen as liberation for women,” said Harris, “but my students are turning their back on it, concerned about its impact on their physical and mental health. It’s part of a new focus on clean eating and living.” |
| Fertility apps require women to use a thermometer to check their temperature each day and enter other information such as details of periods. Data analytics then create an ovulation cycle forecast. It can be used by women who want to work out the best time of each month to conceive, as well as by those who want to avoid getting pregnant. | Fertility apps require women to use a thermometer to check their temperature each day and enter other information such as details of periods. Data analytics then create an ovulation cycle forecast. It can be used by women who want to work out the best time of each month to conceive, as well as by those who want to avoid getting pregnant. |
| It is a turnaround in the fortunes of what used to be called the rhythm method – or Vatican roulette – as a birth control method approved by the Catholic church, which opposes artificial birth control such as the pill. But without the algorithms of an app, it was highly risky. | It is a turnaround in the fortunes of what used to be called the rhythm method – or Vatican roulette – as a birth control method approved by the Catholic church, which opposes artificial birth control such as the pill. But without the algorithms of an app, it was highly risky. |
| One of the highlights of the show is a piece of specially composed music, written by Ion Marmarinos and animated by Stephanie Bickford-Smith. It was created from daily temperatures charted by four women, temperatures that fluctuate according to their ovulation cycles. Marmarinos then translated the plotted measurements into musical notes, harmonies and cadences, creating melodies based on the interior rhythms of the women’s bodies. | One of the highlights of the show is a piece of specially composed music, written by Ion Marmarinos and animated by Stephanie Bickford-Smith. It was created from daily temperatures charted by four women, temperatures that fluctuate according to their ovulation cycles. Marmarinos then translated the plotted measurements into musical notes, harmonies and cadences, creating melodies based on the interior rhythms of the women’s bodies. |
| The women also made a “wordle”, or word cloud, from reactions to the document Humanae Vitae – the 1968 papal document that banned the pill and urged Catholics to use the rhythm method – and poet Audrey Ardern-Jones turned the words into poetry. Film footage of lips speaking the poetry surround you in the exhibition. | The women also made a “wordle”, or word cloud, from reactions to the document Humanae Vitae – the 1968 papal document that banned the pill and urged Catholics to use the rhythm method – and poet Audrey Ardern-Jones turned the words into poetry. Film footage of lips speaking the poetry surround you in the exhibition. |
| Harris devised the show not only to look at how people try to control reproductive cycles but also to examine and challenge the taboos surrounding menstruation. “The research I’ve done for the exhibition made me realise there is a new preparedness to debate and discuss new forms of fertility tracking and contraception,” she said. “There are more frank and better-informed conversations among women and men about our bodies and about blood.” | Harris devised the show not only to look at how people try to control reproductive cycles but also to examine and challenge the taboos surrounding menstruation. “The research I’ve done for the exhibition made me realise there is a new preparedness to debate and discuss new forms of fertility tracking and contraception,” she said. “There are more frank and better-informed conversations among women and men about our bodies and about blood.” |
| Harris has been struck by the way in which fertility apps have changed responsibility in sexual relationships. “With condoms, the emphasis is on men taking control. The pill stressed the role of women in deciding when to get pregnant or not. | Harris has been struck by the way in which fertility apps have changed responsibility in sexual relationships. “With condoms, the emphasis is on men taking control. The pill stressed the role of women in deciding when to get pregnant or not. |
| “With fertility apps, a woman is monitoring her cycle, but she can invite her partner to join her on the app and so be involved. And the times when you can have sex are curtailed, so that brings back a certain restraint, something both partners have to agree on. In this way, decision-making stresses partnership much more.” | “With fertility apps, a woman is monitoring her cycle, but she can invite her partner to join her on the app and so be involved. And the times when you can have sex are curtailed, so that brings back a certain restraint, something both partners have to agree on. In this way, decision-making stresses partnership much more.” |
| The exhibition, at the Haemotel, Collingwood Street, Southwark from Tuesday 7 to Monday 13 November, will be accompanied by discussions on contraception and reproduction. | The exhibition, at the Haemotel, Collingwood Street, Southwark from Tuesday 7 to Monday 13 November, will be accompanied by discussions on contraception and reproduction. |
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