This artist reminds us that all vaginas are beautiful

That’s why rates of labiaplasty keep increasing. It’s why so many women lack confidence during sex, worrying that their vaginas aren’t ‘normal’ or look ‘weird’.

It’s something we need to fix. Ideally in sex education, sure. But while we wait for the government to sort that out, we can at least take some joy in the work of artists trying to share as many different vulvae as possible.

If you were a fan of the vulva gallery (which we definitely were), you’ll enjoy the Diversity of Nature series by Jacqueline Secor.

It’s a series of illustrations celebrating vulvae and encouraging people to accept and love their bodies.

Jacqueline was inspired to start the series by her own insecurity.

‘I was in a very unhealthy relationship and environment which caused me to become extremely self-critical,’ Jacqueline told metro.co.uk.

‘The decision to paint vulvae began as an entirely personal way to help myself cope with some struggles, but, after sharing a few early paintings with my close friends and family, they responded by sending me photos of their own bodies to reimagine in my art.

‘Their responses encouraged my to make the project public – they said that seeing their most intimate body parts represented on canvas helped them deal with their own secret insecurities’

Jacqueline admits that it was tough to share the series publicly because it was so personal.

But her experience using art to help herself heal from body dysmorphia encouraged her to share her work with a wider audience.

‘I felt that if I could help even one or two other women to love and to accept their bodies it would be worth it.’

She started by sharing illustrations from her series on her Instagram, writing her own personal experiences with body dysmorphia. She never expected to get such an incredible response.

‘I had had women women from all around the world: friends, family members, casual acquaintances, and total strangers contribute as models for my work,’ said Jacqueline.

‘I’ve had dozens more, men and women, contact me, some publicly and some privately, expressing gratitude for the way this series helped them see beauty in the human body. ‘

Each painting Jacqueline creates is based on a photo of the vulva, with elements of the natural world added in. It’s not about trying to make vulvae look pretty, explains Jacqueline, but to show vulvae as ‘elements of the incredible natural world we are a part of.’

Each piece takes around 25 to 35 hours, and is a combination of painting and paper sculpture to add texture.

Once the artwork is completed, it’s interactive, with people able to lift and move pieces to see layers underneath.

The point of it all? To honour each body in all its glorious individuality.

‘Even today, despite the prevalence of female nudes in art museums, despite the accessibility to pornography, there is still tremendous pressure on women to hide themselves, to be ashamed of whatever doesn’t conform to societal standards of beauty and propriety,’ explains Jacqueline.

Source: http://metro.co.uk/2017/03/02/this-artists-paintings-are-a-reminder-that-all-vaginas-are-beautiful-6483615/