CHING CHU 仟青

Consecration

Performance, used tampons, menstrual blood

Variable dimension

2019

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Menstruation is a natural biological phenomenon which signifies the fertility of women. Around the world, menstruation is perceived as impure in a lot of cultural traditions, which results in taboos like prohibiting menstruating women from participation in religious rituals. Even though the social status of women in the modern times has generally risen, the ancient idea that menstruation is a taboo is still deep-rooted in society. Menstrual blood and menstrual products are still perceived as unclean.

 

I air-dried and disinfected used tampons, made use of menstrual blood and menstrual products as materials to make a bouquet, trying to break the constructed perception of “uncleanness" of menstruation by juxtaposing with the loveliness in the form of flowers. I brought the bouquet to the Tam Kung Tin Hau Temple, where Nüwa, the Chinese goddess of fertility is worshipped. Putting the tampon bouquet in front of the statue of the goddess as an offering, not only am I questioning traditional concepts and social taboos, the act also represents the concentration of women for our ability to give birth, while lauding menstruation as the divine symbol of the strength of women. 

 

in 2019, her work won the First Place in the competition and exhibition, I Am Period Positive - Menstruation and You Creative Visual Arts Exhibition, co-held by MenstruAction and 480.0 Gender × Art Space. 

 

In 2020, it is re-exhibited in the exhibition, The Twenty-Eighth Day, again in 480.0 Gender × Art Space with media coverage in The Culturist, Apple Daily and Now Finance. (Articles in Chinese)

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