I can't get enough of Jen Lewis' series Beauty in Blood. The photos are beautiful, lush, colorful and full of life and movement. Seemingly abstract, the fact that they are menstrual blood makes them even more beautiful if that is even possible. As a cisgendered woman, menstrual blood -- the physical representation of the cycle of life; a symbolic transition from childhood; one of the first times we were taught to have shame -- period blood is still often a taboo subject. Look at the response when Kiran Gandhi ran the the London marathon without a tampon. Jen takes this taboo and celebrates her blood -- using it as a new creative force and literally her medium. From her statement:
In my experience, women and men are hungry for an authentic dialogue about menstruation and all that encompasses. It is clear the time is now to stand up and speak out on behalf of menstruation. It is a natural, messy but beautiful part of life. Just because it is not a shared experience doesn’t mean it needs to be a divisive topic that aids in gender inequity. Beauty in Blood asserts that menstruation needs to be seen to help normalize the female body and to acknowledge this part of the female experience by inviting the viewer to take a closer look and reflect on their personal gut reactions to the subject of “menstruation.”
via Distractify