Making Endometriosis Visible Exhibition with Arc
Stockport arts and health charity Arc partnered with the Manchester Metropolitan University Psychology Department and Manchester School of Art for ‘Making Endometriosis Visible’, a project led by artist Helen Mather exploring the lived experience of endometriosis pain.
A culmination of the project plus the launch of a toolkit that was developed opens at Arc at Hat Works, Stockport, on Saturday, March 30, 2024.
The project, run by Dr Jasmine Hearn at Manchester Metropolitan University Psychology Department and Ian Whadcock at Manchester School of Art, explored the reliance on verbal language to communicate this invisible pain to others, aiming to support effective communication surrounding chronic pain.
The project’s workshops were held at Arc and facilitated by artist Helen Mather. Helen lives with endometriosis, which is a gynaecological condition that causes painful periods, pelvic pain, fatigue and poor mental health for 1 in 10 women in the UK. Her recent body of artwork explores how materials can be used to develop a visual language to explore her own experience with pain.
Within the workshops, Helen shared her own creations to help inspire and support participants creatively to make their invisible pain visible through an exciting blend of psychology and art and the participants’ visualisations will be displayed through the launch of an ‘endometriosis pain visualisation toolkit’.
This project worked in collaboration with the Manchester Metropolitan University’s Department of Design, Manchester School of Art, thanks to funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council
and support from Endometriosis UK.
The launch + Saturday Art Club which includes creative activities for ages 3+ at Arc, Hat Works, Wellington Road South on Saturday, March 30 from 11:00-15:00. The exhibition continues on Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00-16:00 and Saturdays 11:00-15:00, in line with Hat Works Cafe opening hours.
For more information follow Arc on social media or visit the website at https://arc-centre.org/exhibition-making-endometriosis-visible/
