Menstrala: 
Reframing the Oldest Taboo

Why Create Art Using This Medium?

 

The medium is the message. 

~ Marshall McLuhan

The Medium Holds Power

 

Menstrual blood holds innate power to reshape human consciousness. Its long outdated stigma has turned it into a misunderstood taboo to the disservice of humanity.

The Medium is Forbidden

 

In any society that believes that looking at menstrual blood is offensive or harmful, it is expected to remain invisible & ignored. Women must deal with it privately, alone & in silence, with non-existent or inadequate support from health, education & economic systems.

Served to the Vatican

 

Menstrala No. 42, titled October Flight, was requested and served to the Vatican's website domain on November 9th, 2002. A testament to how powerful the medium is.

Since their publication in 2000, today Menstrala are academically recognized, decades after the genesis collection of 88 paintings were created by Vanessa Tiegs. 

Cycle Logical Art

 

These artworks portray how a silenced bleeding experience shapes one's psychological outlook. The art movement also exposes society's attitude towards menstrual blood.

Setting A World Stage

 

In 2000, Menstrala inspired an art movement that gave girls a valid means of expression to deflect the conditioned shame in bleeding. Girls began creating Menstrala to help them define their sexuality, feminine identity and menstrual experience. Some contributed their menstrual paintings to the academically accepted visual arts movement, while others kept them as private journals.

 

 

 

Menstrala redirect awareness to girls' menstrual poverty, the need for programs in middle schools, the lack of cultural validation of girls' first rite of passage, & the chronic health issues that menstruation & menopause cause. Menstrala also introduce practices for Mindful Menstruation.

Replacing Outdated Values

Menstrala rebalance the destructive programming honed on girls. Menstrala support educational health programs, such as CeMCOR's Endowment Fund. The Centre for Menstrual Cycle & Ovulation Research at the University of British Columbia promotes new medical standards in women's health.  

Memes in the early 2000's

In just 2 months following their public unveiling in 2000, Vanessa Tiegs' LiveJournal of Spiraling Moon Pain-Things ignited an army of memes on Metafilter.com. 

Film Appearances

Several Menstrala have appeared in film productions.

Period: The End of Menstruation

Moon Inside You

A Flowering Tree

1st International Menstrala Competition, 2014

Drew Over 100 Entries

In 2014, the University of Mexico organized the 1st International Menstrala Competition.

Vanessa Tiegs was invited to serve on the jury as a judge.

Learn Monthmatics: The Practice of Mindful Menstruation

Explore the wisdom of cycle logic through the mindful practice of menstruation to expand your psychological power and deepen your spiritual consciousness.

 

Enroll for the next upcoming Masterclass in January 2025! Start off the New Year with deep insights & perspectives.

 

Opens during the week of the first new moon of every new season. Just click Book Call page and request more info on Monthmatics Masterclass.

 

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