Cristin Millett

#MeToo – for Cecilia in Trastevere
cast silicone, acrylic and cotton fiber, pubic hair, cast aluminum
6 x 13 x 15 in.

Growing up in a medical household, I was surrounded by discussions focused on the human body: its diseases, diagnosis, and treatments. In my family of scientists those conversations continue to this day, and the profound effect that exposure has had on my art continues. My research focuses on our eternal fascination with the human reproductive system and challenges perceptions of the female anatomy. I approach my work using a very logical and systematic method, grounding myself in research on the history of medicine. An extension of my research includes “sacred anatomy,” a term coined by literary historian Jonathan Sawday to describe the pre-16th century practice of dismembering cadavers, particularly nobility and saints, in order to disperse the remains/relics for widespread worship.

“#MeToo – for Cecilia in Trastevere” references the pussy hat, which has become synonymous for women’s rights and the #metoo movement. Using a technique called hair punching, I inserted pubic hair into the pink silicone pomegranate with a needle, one strand at a time. My work questions how we perceive, stereotype, and stigmatize the female body and brings awareness to my viewers of their physicality, their sexuality, and all its implications.

© Cristin Millett