01.29.08
“Unconventional” awareness
Today I have some – some people might say gross – findings for you in the realm of “female power” or public awareness or whatever you want to call it. Around Xmas I bought a reflex:
The designer is Marianne (!) Valola, and the name of the refex is not called “kirkkovene” (Finnish slang for vagina) except for everybody – officially the name is “Naisten päivä” (Women’s Day) . It is being sold by Tulva, a feminist magazine.
Ok, that, as provocative as it is, was just the beginning. At Taiteiden yö some people were shocked by a giantic vagina that moved on wheels. It was Mimosa Pale’s MobileFemale Monument and one by one, it is possible to climb inside to calm down, like in a cradle, or womb. Helsingin Sanomat reports the monument received the award “Vuoden esteettinen teko,” (Aesthetic deed of the year).
But once we have recovered from this 
, there is more. Many still understand the wonderfullness of the vagina, but menstruation or tampons? Ever felt embarrassed in the supermarket when somebody (not me, heaven forbid!) lifts a package of tampons on the conter? Why? Do you get embarrassed for seeing / buying toilet paper the same way? See!? Tampons are clean cotton and paper, just like toilet paper is clean paper, and I must say, I like blood a lot more than, um, you know.
Toilet paper rolls are children’s favorite supples for crafts, and many adults use them, too. So are you ready for tampon crafts? Be my guests! Welcome to the tampon salon:
Yes, a giant candelier made of 14, 000 (unused) wrapped tampons. And there’s even more, not solely for girls: 
