Menstrual Blood Art?

Some artists use paint, some use ink, Carina Ubeda uses her menstrual blood. The Chilean “artist” currently has an exhibition at the Center of Culture and Health in Quillota, Chile called “Cloths” in which she’s displays 5 years worth of her menses. She claims she’s allergic to pads and has to be quite literally on the rag. The cloths are held in wooden hoops next to dangling rotten apples that are supposed to symbolize ovulation or some such bullshit. Ubeda said, “Male blood is celebrated for being brave while ours is a shame.” She’s got a point, I guess, but honestly this thing is a lot less shocking and a whole lot more lame and wanky. And gross. Also, hers didn’t come about from a sword fight protecting the realm. This is more like anatomical expectorant.

That old chestnut about men fearing menstrual blood has been combed over by feminist writers and shitty women stand-ups for decades. What’s her next subject going to be? How men always leave the toilet seat up? That they don’t ask for directions? Any guy who has lived with a woman has been forced to get over the fact that women bleed from their lady bits. Maybe several years ago this would have been shocking, but in the age of the Internet and gross out comedies where we can watch stuff 100 times more disturbing than some silly period blood, it just doesn’t pack the same punch. Crossing Chilean public health museums off my summer to-do list.