The first exhibition of the VAGINAMUSEUM.at broaches the issue of current terms and subjective meanings of the female sexual organs. Apparently, there is no general term used for the female sex at large. Often, only individual parts like vagina and vulva are named. This is why both the museum and the virtual opening exhibition are called VAGINA 2.0.

The vagina stands for a body part which represents the female sexuality and can be found symbolically in all myths, religions and societies. Various representations of women's sexual organs indicate the existence of a female role model in social systems and allow conclusions to be drawn as to the importance of women in different environments. At the same time, constructions of reality will be critically reflected in connection with religious and political systems, social fields, social psychological groups, forms of relationships, individuality and thus identities and human ways of life. This reflection on the term vagina will be explored via conceptions, expectations, attributions, associations and emotional moods by means of art.

The form of the Open Call was chosen in order to get to know as many multifaceted creative and individual viewpoints from artists as possible. Female and male artists were invited to provide (net)adequate inputs from different artistic fields.
Out of financial reasons, only a limited number of projects could be selected for the final round. In content and from an artistic and systematic point of view, the chosen entries best meet the criteria of the Open Call. However, due to a wide range of contributions and their extensive variety we decided to present further projects/concepts and integrate them into the exhibition concept.

The Visualisation shows the versatile artistic contributions in an overview and lists the respective key terms which are taken from the concepts of the presenting artists and are assigned to the correspondent content areas of the exhibition VAGINA 2.0. The formal image changes between visual and text-based views as well as their networks.
(Artwork: Kerstin Rajnar_frau mag rosa pink)

Inputs for the virtual exhibition VAGINA 2.0

The artistic inputs range from earlier depictions of vulva symbols in different civilizations and times to the life and work on social media online platforms and sex-positive feminism in cyberspace (cf. Chart):

SYMBOLS – GODDESS – NATURE – PSYCHOLOGY – BODY NORMS – MASS PRODUCTS – PORNOGRAPHY – CYBERSPACE – SEX AND GENDER – CENSORSHIP – TRANSGENDER – SEX-POSITIVE FEMINISM

Myriam Thyes (DE) connects female figures and vulva symbols from different times, countries and cultures in her animation "GOLBAL VULVA" while they morph into each other. The cultural meaning of the female genital becomes visible again. You'll see paleolithic engravings, goddesses, drawings of vulvas and of their symbols, as well as the "Venus of Hohle Fels".
Mattia Biagi (US) dedicates his Bronze amulet „V charm" to the goddess Benzaiten who is the representative of love and art. In Japanese tradition, it is believed that carrying the amulet will bring you luck and prosperity.
Iwona Demko (PL) refers to fertility and birth in her installation „Chapel of the Vagina". Her work is intended to restore the matriarchal ideas and to bring the vagina from the realm of the profane back to the sacred.
Petra Mattheis (DE) deals with menstrual blood and the revolt against stereotypes, shame and stigmata connected with menstruation. "BAM - Become a Menstruator!" seeks to shape a new and positive approach towards menstruation by means of various materials (T-shirts, buttons, stickers, posters...).
Grit Scholz (DE) took photos of yonis* and combined them with pictures from nature to emphasize the uniqueness of shape and colors. Nature doesn't know a norm! Increasing vaginal beauty operations as well as genital mutilation determined the realization of the book "Das Tor ins Leben" which is attended to serve as illuminating illustrative material for women. (*yoni from Sanskrit = vulva)
Rosa Roedelius (AT) deals in her objects "Beet" with the primary forms of female sexuality in a playfully interpretative way. The outcome are fruity vaginal hybrids which appear all-consuming, threatening and decently virginal.
Dorothée Zombronner (DE) questions in her paintings "Von Vulvi und Korpi", which at first seem quite abstract, traditional conceptions of aesthetics, beauty and sex. Similar to a Rorschach-test, these works remind of the female genitals, but at the same time they can't be clearly distinguished.
Barbara Klampfl and Gisela Reimer (AT) contrast the myth of Venus to reality. The photo-montage "VENUS" is a poetic exploration of bodies, femininity, its presentation, and of involvement.
Ulla Sladek (AT) opposes in her photographies body norms which are imposed on us. "verzerrt" is a counterpart to the hyperrealistic delusions of digitally manipulated bodies in advertising photography.
Angela Proyer (AT/CH) developed the pink vending machine "Muschi2Go". Anonymously, people discretely draw a moisturized Muschi (the German slang word for a female genital) from of a vending machine. A woman is reduced to her genitals and becomes a mass product. In the participatory on-line animation, buyers additionally receive a quote from a famous feminist when choosing a Muschi.
Faith Holland (US) installed the fully-functional "pornographic" website "VVVVVV" that addresses the pornographic use of women's bodies throughout the history of the world wide web. The project develops new theoretical potentialities for gender, technology, and sex.
Melinda Rackham (AU) explores and questions early concepts of a transparent identity and sexuality in the net. The work "tunnel" is the digital vagina. In it, the "cyberurban" melodrama of sexual relationships online is displayed, like the cyber affair and the ensuing tensions between the cyber-sexual and the real carnal experience. It demonstrates the inconsistency and incompatibility when the digitally coded self crosses the final border.
Christina Strasser (AT) depicts in her participatory on-line animation "common people" who unashamedly show their genital area. Many teenagers, especially girls, are very insecure about how to deal with their sex. "2nd Sexual Revolution" appeals for a less inhibited exposure to one's own sexuality and the recognition of a natural variety.
Soso Phist (AT) selects for her blog "Anti Pussy Ban" various illustrations and images from found footage material, and works with the platform tumblr since it avoids censorship when it comes to vaginas. All recipients can select from a wide range of inputs which enable an examination of personal approaches and individual contexts.
The collective AMAE (GB) tries to support both individuals and groups of people. "I Will Jump First" represents a significant decision: Gaia decides for a sex change surgery. Amae underwent the tattoo in order to demonstrate that such a decision can be taken without being traumatized. The action was intended as a therapeutic effort and as a matched action. Don't talk, do it!
The collective Freudenweide & Villefort (AT) shows in the short film "Meine Vagina Liebt Mich" eight vulvas full of self-confidence: they are contemplative, poetic, angry, humorous. One aspect unites them all: joyously, courageously and smilingly they sit down in front of the camera and proclaim their messages.
Teresa Ascencao (CA) creates the ever-expanding on-line project "Autoerotic Meditations" which comprises sound and image contributions from female co-creators by means of a social media platform. The Euphoric Femme series is inspired by sex-positive feminism and sacred sexuality, and aspires to politicize female sexual agency, facilitate female eroticism, and link art to well-being.

Conceptional design/Curator: Doris Jauk-Hinz