The Climacteric

A personal journey through the menopause

The Climacteric explores the period in a woman's life around the menopause. Although usually a natural event, it can also be an emotional and physically challenging time,  one that many women find difficult to talk about.

Black and white imagery metaphorically represents the idea of a before and after and the transition from fertile to infertile. To interrogate and visualise the chaotic, powerful and unpredictable emotions, I position my body in exaggerated poses and add colour in the form of emojis. Finally, to encourage the viewer to travel with me on this difficult journey, I use the coping mechanism of self-depreciating humour. I lead into the confusion of the unknown and on to experience senses of fear, loss or regret. I share my anger, exhaustion and frustration and confront the viewer with sudden and unexpected red images symbolising the heat of a debilitating hot flush. The Climacteric is my personal journey but echoes the voices of many other women.