UNKNOWN UNKNOWNS (2020) is a project bringing together patient ambassadors for Blood Cancer UK and stem cell researchers working at the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre. Through a series of stop-motion animation workshops held via Zoom, participants developed hand-cut animation sequences exploring their experiences of ‘the unknown’ in relation to living with blood cancer, the challenges of research and the global uncertainties of Covid-19. Animation materials included paper, velvet and issues of National Geographic published in 1960, the year Blood Cancer UK officially became a charity.
Commissioned by the Wellcome - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute as part of its Public Engagement programme, project outcomes include an animated film featuring participants’ stop-motion sequences (Futuramic Unknown, 2020) and an installation for the Jeffery Cheah Biomedical Center at Cambridge Biomedical Campus (The Night the Mountains Moved, 2020).
Complimentary sanitary bag,
taken from Murray Edwards College
on March 14th, 2020.
What's up with that whiter-than-white, oh-so-coyly exposed dainty ankle? Why is this the image that represents my period and what dealing with it actually entails? And yet this is the same ubiquitous lady gracing the sanitary bags I see in public toilets all over the place. The same ridiculously small waist and exposed shoulder, eyeing me up as I'm trying not to get blood on my hands.
A women's college certainly deserves something better.
Notes and sketches, summer of 2020
chocolate
wine
peaches
honey
skin and blood -
shared experience
the uterus as an organ
physiological triangle
trinity of body, soul, mind
chocolatewinepeacheshoney
Printed wax paper
Limited edition of bespoke sanitary bags
2021
Created in donation to New Hall Art Collection,
for use by the students, faculty and guests at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge.