Hi everybody!!!
I decided to continue writing another article on the previous topic I posted about. I realized that there are so many ways to create things and one of them could be through digital means.
A week after I arrived in Orgiva, Spain I started using this illustrator tool to work out these images in my mind. I came to the Alpujarras in the hope of connecting with women and tuning into possible healing mechanisms, fostering feminine bonds and then channeling ways to express those experiences.
Without a doubt Orgiva has a powerful drive and the #women who live in and around this area represent a pure force of nature.
I have met all kinds of women in Orgiva; #mothers, #teachers, #healers, #sisters and #messengers.
The city I lived in previously, Montreal (in Canada) was fueled with beaming, strong independent feminine energy. I have met so many daring female artists who push the boundaries of our social conditioning and believe there lies something positive for all of us to gain from.
I started making these small pieces because I felt that this topic was somewhat taboo in most societies. Female anatomy and our overall bodily functions was a contentious topic, this goes without saying that female sexuality is also tainted by a veil of misinformation and repression.
In search for another useful tool to maintain a steady flow of creativity I came upon the adobe illustrator, which is ideal when travelling. however, I do not have any extra gadgets such as the digital pen and pad or mouse, I solely use my touch pad and work around it.
Some of the pieces below are more explicit and touch upon those taboo subjects of #female #sexuality but I sense that normalizing these topics is also what we have to do. There is nothing shameful, socially unacceptable or morally incorrect in bring these drawings to the public. In my heart I wish to celebrate these beautiful, intricate facets of our womanhood, empower both men and women through it. By #normalizing female sexuality, men can also experience a relief from social constructs, free themselves from these rigid boarders of 'masculinity' and open their hearts. We have so much to learn from each other, and in order to do that we can no longer see each other as opposites, but rather as complementary. Like all symbolisms across the globe; yin + yand, yoni + lingam, the moon and the sun and so forth. We are both male and female to various degrees inside of us, therefore the possibility of us interchanging and complementing one another is a viable solution. More importantly, the most immanent and powerful tool at our disposal is tolerance and acceptance.
We can rid ourselves of suffering and move forward as stronger, more confident individuals, with our sexuality undisturbed and supported by a positive social structure.
My first illustration is a tame yet sophisticated orchid, which to me serves as a symbolism of femininity with the emphasis on the world "Flora", deriving from Roman mythology of the goddess of flowers and the overall complex plant life species.
FLORA
Poison Ivy
This second illustration is solely coming from a personal curiosity and intrigue of the Poison Ivy character. Women have been drawn to the myriad usage of plant medicine and have also suffered greatly because of it. Either being misunderstood and stigmatized as witches and vile, fearful creatures, while trying to tap into alternative healing tools. This is how my affinity to this character grew and I decided to make an illustration out of it.
This third illustration is quite self-explanatory or self-evident. The topic of menstruation is still controversial in many places around the world, even in the most open minded regions. Since my adolescence, I felt my #menstruation was also something I had to hide, hide from myself and those around me. This natural process in my body was somehow an occurrence that could not be exposed, it was unhygienic, embarrassing and needed to remain hidden. Until I switched to this moon cup method I never even saw what my body was expelling. So until recently, and with the aid of the women that crossed paths with me, I had never understood my body and much less viewed it as a magical temple.
So I switched to this moon cup method, understood what came out of my body, how I felt before, during and after my menstruation and most importantly, there is nothing to be ashamed of. I am also interested in trying to dedicate one month to a natural experience of menstruation. Without using any device to withhold my flow, I would be intrigued in experiencing a cycle of menstruation, the first 2-3 days and understanding what my body is creating. I live next to a river and my house is in a remote, natural setting so this would allow me to experience this and share it afterwards.
We can create a dialogue between women and men so as to liberate ourselves and view our bodily functions as these incredibly beautiful mechanisms of creating LIFE.
Blue Moon
My last two pieces are more playful and touching upon the humour side of female sexuality. They are to be taken lightly while working with this notion of breaking the overly sexualized view of women.
The last piece is definitely more 'provoking' if you will, but there isn't any need to shy away from female sexuality and hence our emancipation through it.
Watering Plants
Water Woman
We can celebrate ourselves in all our glory ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
I would love to see this type of exchange being share!
I am open to reading any one of your stories and connecting, helping and liberating each other.
Much love
Bagheera
♥