"Shame" is a paper collage that delves into the deep-rooted shame many women are conditioned to feel about their bodies and womanhood. A woman with her head locked in a cage, hiding behind her hair, represents the confinement imposed by societal expectations. Above her, a large pink drop signifies the shame of menstruation, an aspect of womanhood historically cloaked in discomfort and secrecy.
Vertical lines of patterns separate her from a man sprawled naked and free of shame, his body a symbol of unrestricted self-assurance. In the background flowers from a tree have fallen, naturally displaying the cycles of the earth and a reminder of natural renewal, growth, and change. This cyclical imagery represents the process of shedding old beliefs and embracing the fluidity of sexuality, womanhood, and self-acceptance. "Shame" is a reflection on these societal cycles, urging a reclamation of our bodies and identities as women.
The illustration of the caged woman was originally created by Myokard and is titled “Never enough”.
The photograph of the naked man was taken by Wilhelm Von Gloeden.
