Vagina Museum reopens in London’s new location
The world’s first Bricks-and-mortar Vagina Museum, the only museum in the world dedicated to the gynecological female anatomy, founded by Florence Schechter, reopens in its new location in Bethnal Green. There is one Vagina with a pierced clitoris, another with tampon string hanging out, one completely hairless and another encased in a ginger halo, some with longer labia and some labia are tucked away. There is a wall of 56 vulvas photographs in colour, each vulva handpicked from a pool of 500 by the founder.
The new location in Bethnal Green Vagina Museum which occupies the bottom floor has a swish new spot in a creative hub named Enter, run by Immersive theatre company Exit Productions under a property guardianship.
A Brief History exploring the persistent taboos over the years, which is highly interactive as visitors are invited to draw their own menstrual cave drawings with pens.
Florence Schechter was inspired in 2017 by the existence of Iceland’s Phallological Museum, which exhibits hundreds of penises from animals, to spotlight female genitals. The museum would bring people together both young and old to address sensitive issues like female genital mutilation, rape, domestic abuse, and sexual health.
“It’s really important because it’s a hugely stigmatized part of the body and that leads to some real-world consequences. Just anything and everything that‘s taboo with that part of the body is what we’re going to be addressing. Girls and women often feel awkward about getting gynecological check-ups, such as screenings for cervical cancer, or discussing their periods” Schechter said.
In sections A to V you will find the vaginally bleached knickers which went viral on the Museum’s Twitter earlier this year.
Although the museum has global success, landlords seem to be suffering from a fear of fanny syndrome.
The museum is entirely funded through donations, membership schemes, and its shop. However, the museum received funding from Camden Council for £10, 000 after the pandemic.
It is imperative to build relationships with future funders to realize their bigger ambition to their full potential. Florence Schechter would like to do an exhibition on activism and body activism in the near future and explore the vagina from an arts and culture perspective as well as science and history.
Despite the landlords and internet trolls, the museum enjoys a unique positive relationship with its visitors.
Women in their 20s and 30s who had no idea about the internal clitoris, are dragging their boyfriends to the exhibition. Teenagers also consider the museum as a safe place for learning rather than resorting to opting for porn for research. Older women, however, wishes the Vagina Museum had existed when they were younger, single dads who want to teach their kids about periods.
The Vagina Museum is open now at Enter, 18 Victoria Square.