Women stitch their voices

From silence to art

Before launching the exhibition, Wang had already initiated an embroidery project on sanitary pads through Xiaohongshu. This project later became a key part of the exhibit, with some pieces submitted online and others created by visitors on-site.

"Sanitary products used to be hidden away," Wang said, introducing an embroidered pad adorned with vibrant stripes.

The creator of this piece explained that her design was inspired by the menstrual cloths her grandaunt once used in a remote rural area. "Women there could only wash the cloths at night and had to dry them indoors, away from sunlight, because the villagers believed menstrual blood was 'impure'," she said.

"Embroidery has always been associated with women, just like sanitary pads. I want to use these two symbols to challenge period shame," Wang said.

The exhibition also features a wide array of female-centric artworks, all created by women artists. Some were personally invited by Wang, while others joined after visiting the exhibit or discovering it online.

One standout piece is She Can Be, created by a female university student. It depicts a uterus surrounded by hands, with irises blossoming from it — a symbol that women are not just mothers but can flourish in every role they choose.

An educational section, developed in collaboration with two publishing houses, provides visitors with information about women's health and physiology. Topics include the causes of menstrual pain, different types of sanitary products, and illustrations of reproductive organs — all designed to dispel common misconceptions about gynecological health.

"Many women with gynecological issues fear judgment more than the health problem itself," Wang said. "I want to emphasize that these are simply physical conditions; they have nothing to do with a person's character."

She recalled a man who, after visiting the exhibition with his girlfriend, bought a health book to learn more. "Knowledge isn't gendered. Everyone should understand these topics," Wang said.

The exhibition is free, though visitors can choose to pay for creative activities or purchase cultural products.

"After covering the costs, the proceeds are used to buy sanitary pads, which are then donated to girls in underprivileged rural areas," Wang explained. "It's a beautiful thing — women supporting other women in their own way."