Monday, August 17, 2009

Sculptor Jamie McCartney and his Design A Vagina project


Jamie McCartney

From http://www.brightonbodycasting.com/design-a-vagina.php

Design A Vagina is the third in a series exploring our relationship with our genitals. So far I have completed the first panel of 40 casts, arranged in a grid. The final piece will have 6 panels of 40 casts. I have taken moulds now from around 200 women but I still need another 40 volunteers. The process uses safe, non toxic materials. It's fast and fun, so come on down and be a 1/240th of art history in the making

"Why am I doing it and what's it all about?" I hear you ask. Well, vulvas and labia are as different as a faces many people, particularly women, don't seem to know that. Men tend to have seen more than women, who have often only seen their own, and many have never looked that closely. Hence the exposure of so many, showing the variety of shapes is endlessly fascinating, empowering and comforting. For many women their genitals are a source of shame rather than pride and this piece seeks to redress the balance, showing that everyone is different and everyone is normal.

The title is a play on words, commenting on the trend for surgery to create the 'perfect' vagina. This modern day equivalent of female genital mutilation is a bizarre practice which suggests that one is better than another. Taste in nothing is universal and any desire for 'homogyny' could be very misguided. 240 casts arranged in this manner is in no way pornographic, as it might have been if photographs had been used. One is able to stare without shame but in wonder and amazement at this exposé of human variety. For the first time for many women they will be able to see their own genitals in relation of other women's. In doing so they may dispel many misconceptions they may have been carrying about what women look like 'down there'. The sculpture is serene and intricate and it works on many levels. The piece is ongoing and growing and I intend to have the casts completed in time for a London exhibition in 2009 with a UK tour planned for early 2010.

Already included are examples of male to female and a female to male transexuals, a virgin, a porn star and a woman with some elaborate piercings. Ages so far range from 18 year old students to a grandmother of 64. I really want to include as many possibilities as I can and am actively seeking a victim of female genital mutilation who would like to be included as well as a prostitute perhaps, maybe before and after childbirth casts, identical twins, a woman who has actually had or is having labiaplasty etc. The more inclusive and complete I can be in this survey the more power this sculpture will have. Please come forward to volunteer and spread the word to anybody else who you think would be interested, particularly if they represent somebody on my 'wanted' list.


Design A Vagina by Jamie McCartney


A closer look...


Closer still..

Jamie McCartney is a sculptor from Brighton. It's too bad he doesn't live closer because this is a project I would love to take part in. I'm sure I'd be a bit nervous but I think I would also take comfort knowing that McCartney is doing this project to not only educate women and men alike to but to assist women in understand that there should be no shame when it comes to their vaginas.

I was first exposed to McCartney's work in the documentary film "The Perfect Vagina" in which journalist Lisa Rogers speaks out about women undergoing labiaplasty surgery. In the film McCartney makes a comment that so many people assume he is gay. He makes a joke about it and says it's because he's bald but really I began to wonder if many individuals assume that heterosexual men are unable to understand the concept of shame and patriarchy when it comes to the female form.

I understand how some may be skeptical. I was skeptical. As I watched "The Perfect Vagina" and saw McCartney spread blue plaster across the vaginas of so many women, I wondered if he ever becomes aroused during his work. While I would not shame him for doing so as this would not necessarily equate to a sexist mindset.

I commend McCartney for his work and I must say I am envious of the women who get to partake in such a project.

I think many of us women have a love/hate relationship with our vaginas. So much that it boggles my mind that some audiences reject the idea of such projects as The Vagina Monologues. Projects like these assist women in embracing and accepting their bodies. While some women may take the route of romanticising their own vaginas ...and to be honest I get a bit annoyed by that...I think it is a lot better than feeling shame. And really I try not to judge too harshly because we all have our own journies which lead us to various levels of acceptance.

For more information on Jamie McCartney's Design A Vagina project and his other works, visit
http://www.brightonbodycasting.com

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