BODY FLUIDS

The human body. When it breaks its boundaries – it urinates, bleeds, vomits, cries, ejaculates and sweats. The bodily fluids are a necessary part of our life sustaining system. But if so, why are they often associated with embarrassment, shyness and disgust? Why is the fluidity of the human body a taboo in our society?

Using the philosophical approach of the Somaesthetics I ask myself what is the somatic experience once the body is turned inside out?

The “Body fluids” is a collection of jewelry objects made from frozen human bodily liquids, such as menstrual blood, semen and sweat. “Body Fluids” is a performative piece where the jewelry is worn by the performers until it melts. The “Body Fluids” is an exploration of the personal relationship to the seemingly hidden side of our body, exploring the taboos of menstruation, femininity, disgust, and messiness related to the body. The project turns the bodily liquids into and onto the outer body, touching and marking the outer skin, making a temporary tattoo.

Currently there are two jewelry sets created within the project. The set “Woman’s Red” consists of a layered necklace and a pair of earrings made out of menstrual blood frozen into diamond shapes. The second jewelry set titled “The White”, is a pendant shaped as a crucifix created out of semen, collected during seven ejaculations by one male volunteer and collected through his (single) masturbation. The third set to follow will be the “Sweat Pearls”.

The first jewelry set was performed at The Festival of Stage Art (Scenekunst Festival) 2015 in Oslo, Norway. "Body Fluids" was also presented at the Bodily Matters Conference in London, 2016.