
Marta Figueiredo Portugal, b. 9. 4. 1979
I go to the depths of the ocean within the body of a woman, 2023
Passivated steel, aged mirror, fabric and pins
210 x 110 x 60 cm
Copyright The Artist
Marta Figueiredo's room divider artwork serves as a powerful reflection on women's health, visibility and justice. With a historical backdrop of room dividers as both symbolic and physical separators, Marta's...
Marta Figueiredo's room divider artwork serves as a powerful reflection on women's health, visibility and justice. With a historical backdrop of room dividers as both symbolic and physical separators, Marta's creation goes beyond its functional purpose. It becomes a conversation piece that invites analysis and interpretation, prompting viewers to explore the intricate web of symbolism and the artist's personal experience with women's health issues.
Marta's room divider, standing at 2.1 meters tall and 1.1 meters wide, showcases her meticulous attention to detail. The structure, crafted from stainless steel treated with zinc passivation, exhibits a captivating golden rainbow appearance. The soft curved lines and oval-shaped panels are deliberately designed to soften the space, offering a visually pleasing aesthetic. Additionally, the modular structure allows for future iterations, ensuring adaptability and versatility.
What is unique to Marta's artwork is the powerful symbolism present on the panels. Each vertical oval panel is adorned with carefully crafted icons that invite conversation and reflection. These icons synthesize feminine symbols representing various aspects of women's health and experiences. From goddess forms that evoke ancient wisdom to moon symbols symbolising the menstrual cycle, Marta's work encompasses the complexity of women's bodies and lives.
Reproductive health elements such as cystic disease and endometriosis find their place alongside symbols of justice, like a woman holding scales, and the Rod of Asclepius, symbolizing healing. The she-wolf represents motherhood, and the young and mature roses remind viewers that the pain women endure spans from youth to menopause. Delicate cut-outs resembling flowers depict clitorises and vulvas, celebrating femininity and breaking down societal taboos. The presence of the dagger and crown with tears signifies the enduring pain and suffering women often face, while the range of symbols asks viewers to consider the progression and recognition of women's health needs across diverse backgrounds, classes, races, and sexes.
Marta's room divider holds deeper significance beyond its visual appeal. It emerges from the artist's personal experience with endometriosis and her arduous journey of misdiagnosis and feeling gaslighted by doctors for two decades. The artwork becomes a cathartic expression, allowing Marta to reclaim her narrative and shed light on the broader issues surrounding women's health.
Gabrielle Jackson's book, "Pain & Prejudice," offers crucial insights into the challenges women face in obtaining proper healthcare and the systemic biases perpetuated within the medical system in Australia and around the world. Drawing from her own experiences and extensive research, Jackson's book explores the intersection of pain, gender, and medical prejudice. Marta's room divider tries to deliver a visual embodiment of these struggles, a tangible representation of the silent battles fought by women seeking validation and appropriate care.
Marta's room divider also serves as a platform to challenge the biases and data gaps that persist in women's healthcare. Carolina Criado Perez's book, "Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men," offers additional insights into the systematic neglect of women's experiences and needs. Marta's work aligns with Perez's research, as it aims to disrupt the status quo and demand change in healthcare practices.
By questioning the existing bias in medical research and assistance, Marta's room divider urges viewers to critically examine the foundations of healthcare. It highlights the importance of recognising and addressing the full spectrum of women's health needs, emphasising the intersectionality of these needs across diverse populations.
Marta's room divider, standing at 2.1 meters tall and 1.1 meters wide, showcases her meticulous attention to detail. The structure, crafted from stainless steel treated with zinc passivation, exhibits a captivating golden rainbow appearance. The soft curved lines and oval-shaped panels are deliberately designed to soften the space, offering a visually pleasing aesthetic. Additionally, the modular structure allows for future iterations, ensuring adaptability and versatility.
What is unique to Marta's artwork is the powerful symbolism present on the panels. Each vertical oval panel is adorned with carefully crafted icons that invite conversation and reflection. These icons synthesize feminine symbols representing various aspects of women's health and experiences. From goddess forms that evoke ancient wisdom to moon symbols symbolising the menstrual cycle, Marta's work encompasses the complexity of women's bodies and lives.
Reproductive health elements such as cystic disease and endometriosis find their place alongside symbols of justice, like a woman holding scales, and the Rod of Asclepius, symbolizing healing. The she-wolf represents motherhood, and the young and mature roses remind viewers that the pain women endure spans from youth to menopause. Delicate cut-outs resembling flowers depict clitorises and vulvas, celebrating femininity and breaking down societal taboos. The presence of the dagger and crown with tears signifies the enduring pain and suffering women often face, while the range of symbols asks viewers to consider the progression and recognition of women's health needs across diverse backgrounds, classes, races, and sexes.
Marta's room divider holds deeper significance beyond its visual appeal. It emerges from the artist's personal experience with endometriosis and her arduous journey of misdiagnosis and feeling gaslighted by doctors for two decades. The artwork becomes a cathartic expression, allowing Marta to reclaim her narrative and shed light on the broader issues surrounding women's health.
Gabrielle Jackson's book, "Pain & Prejudice," offers crucial insights into the challenges women face in obtaining proper healthcare and the systemic biases perpetuated within the medical system in Australia and around the world. Drawing from her own experiences and extensive research, Jackson's book explores the intersection of pain, gender, and medical prejudice. Marta's room divider tries to deliver a visual embodiment of these struggles, a tangible representation of the silent battles fought by women seeking validation and appropriate care.
Marta's room divider also serves as a platform to challenge the biases and data gaps that persist in women's healthcare. Carolina Criado Perez's book, "Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men," offers additional insights into the systematic neglect of women's experiences and needs. Marta's work aligns with Perez's research, as it aims to disrupt the status quo and demand change in healthcare practices.
By questioning the existing bias in medical research and assistance, Marta's room divider urges viewers to critically examine the foundations of healthcare. It highlights the importance of recognising and addressing the full spectrum of women's health needs, emphasising the intersectionality of these needs across diverse populations.
Exhibitions
Foreign Dialogues, Melbourne Design Week 2023, for FIN GalleryDesign Fringe, LINDEN Gallery, 2023
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