Chaos.

Bolton, England : 2023.

1 photograph : Fujicolour photographic print, lustre ; 42 x 29.7 cm.

Documented in the project zine : Whose menopause? (b33252166)

“Invisibility is a familiar feeling amongst LGBTQ+ people, that’s why Pride is so important because it shows the world that we are far from invisible. We all need to see ourselves reflected in the world around us and unfortunately this often is not the case. Especially in Trans communities. Menopause narratives often completely omit our stories… magazines, TV, books, healthcare leaflets. The more invisible we feel, the more difficult it becomes to raise our voices and tell our stories, so projects like this helps us to speak louder, and prouder! Recently I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the smallest things. I don’t know whether that’s anxiety, or I’m peri menopausal. It’s hard to separate menopausal symptoms from symptoms of other things. This image represents how I can sometimes feel internally… chaotic thoughts, unable to separate threads of thought or think clearly.”--Kate Hardy, artist statement from the zine Whose menopause? .

This work is a visual legacy of 'Whose Menopause?' an Arts Council England funded project in partnership with Bolton at Home and supported by NHS Bolton CCG and Indigo Gender Service. It was a 12-month socially engaged programme of work during 2023, co-created with three community groups. The groups used photography and sustainable cameraless methods to challenge the typical menopause narrative, which often excludes people identifying as LGBTQ+, working class or from the global majority. They took inspiration from recipe books, botanical drawings, photographs and other ephemera in the Wellcome Collection - some of which can be seen in the project's resulting publication 'Whose menopause?'. For further information about the project see: http://www.margebradshawphotography.co.uk/whose-menopause.

Title provided by the artist.

Wellcome Collection 3338645i

Kate Hardy. All Rights Reserved.