RAISING THE SKIRT was created in 2014, through Live Art Development Agencies DIY programme, it is a multilayered collaborative arts project which explores ways in which we can re-establish a connection with the wild and with natural laws to find a deeper connection with our body. Raising the Skirt highlights questions around gender, body politics and continues to develop research on the anthropological body, exploring ways that social, cultural and political dynamics are shaping the perception and understanding of the human body and how these interactions are interpreted through social engagement.
'Raising the Skirt' with Nicola Canavan and Dawn Felicia Knox, Image by Thomas Fernetti
Raising the Skirt has followed the personal narrative of Nicola Hunter, and was triggered by a deeply personal place of overcoming judgement that was placed their own queer body. Hunter began the project by researching the historical links between the vulva and power in hope to develop a deeper connection to their own body, and more specifically their vulva, which is where they came across the history of Raising the Skirt.
Anasyrma, anasyrmos, ana-suromai or anlu, raising the skirt is the gesture of lifting the skirt or kilt. It is used in connection with certain religious & spiritual rituals, shamanic practices, and in some folklore there is an element of playfulness. Anasyrma is effectively "the exposing of the genitals”, which often has more of a direct link to the vulva. The act of lifting up one's skirt to display the genitals can be an apotropaic device; it can, in circumstances of war, evoke the fear of the enemy. It can also be an act that evokes surprise and subsequent laughter and a letting go of sadness. What is significant about anasyrma is that it reflects the numinous quality of the genitals. In several cultures, there is a myth of anasyrma used for emotional healing.
The act of lifting the skirt has been translated across cultures and geographies. It was known as Anasyrma or Ana-Suromai in ancient Greece, Anlu in Kom communities and many more. A flash of the genitals has been known to calm forces of nature; in Madras India, the act was known to subdue storms by locals exposing their genitalia. In other folklore people could drive away devils, evil spirits and even invading warriors.
After a period investigating their own identity and developing a greater understanding of socio-cultural body, the project has developed into a much wider conversation on gender politics. Raising the Skirt is working to evoke these narratives by using a deep placed wild and somatic drive to reclaim the genitals and the queer body as a powerful tool in assertion.
‘Raising the Skirt’ began as a three-day workshop funded by Live Arts Development Agency and was documented by Dawn Felicia Knox, each workshop is a deeply intimate space and created for an authentic experience. The first two workshops focused on biological function, menstruation and socio-cultural experiences of the vulva, they were designed for cis/queer women & queer and gender fluid people who have biologically functioning vagina and vulva's. We were working with very specific lines of enquiry, however I am working to develop a much more intersectional project with wider lines of enquiry.
Everyone involved in the project celebrates people of all genders and are active in fighting for gender equality and supporting the voices of individuals with a spectrum of experiences, the project is in it's very early stages of development and we need time to invest in research, conversation and to take action. The future for ‘Raising the Skirt’ is to be an inclusive space for dialogue and to be representative of all genders. I am very excited to have created a platform which has scope to address much wider questions about gender but unfortunately due to the projects grass roots, it is completely self funded and until we can invest the time to develop our own tool box and understanding, the structure of the workshops will remain the same for the short term.
Please also note that the people you see in these photographs are not models, they are participants who went through an application process to take part, and without their energy and commitment this project would never have been as strong as it is. If you have any information, text, memoirs, images or more that relate to this project or if you are interested in joining our next workshop please email Nicola at raisingtheskirthub@gmail.com
SPECIAL THANKS
I would like to thank Dawn Felicia Knox for her support and investment in the project and a special thanks to all 'Raising the Skirt' participants across every event and contribution, to each of those who have shared experiences and images of your body in hope that one day there will be a greater respect and understanding towards everyones experiences.
And finally to the ever wonderful Live Art Development Agency who invested in our very first workshop as part of their DIY initiative (artist workshops for artists. DIY 11 2014).
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/raisingtheskirt/
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1698360017042477/
WEBSITE LINKS FOR NICOLA HUNTER & DAWN FELICIA KNOX BELOW
Anasyrma, anasyrmos, ana-suromai or anlu, raising the skirt is the gesture of lifting the skirt or kilt. It is used in connection with certain religious & spiritual rituals, shamanic practices, and in some folklore there is an element of playfulness. Anasyrma is effectively "the exposing of the genitals”, which often has more of a direct link to the vulva. The act of lifting up one's skirt to display the genitals can be an apotropaic device; it can, in circumstances of war, evoke the fear of the enemy. It can also be an act that evokes surprise and subsequent laughter and a letting go of sadness. What is significant about anasyrma is that it reflects the numinous quality of the genitals. In several cultures, there is a myth of anasyrma used for emotional healing.
The act of lifting the skirt has been translated across cultures and geographies. It was known as Anasyrma or Ana-Suromai in ancient Greece, Anlu in Kom communities and many more. A flash of the genitals has been known to calm forces of nature; in Madras India, the act was known to subdue storms by locals exposing their genitalia. In other folklore people could drive away devils, evil spirits and even invading warriors.
After a period investigating their own identity and developing a greater understanding of socio-cultural body, the project has developed into a much wider conversation on gender politics. Raising the Skirt is working to evoke these narratives by using a deep placed wild and somatic drive to reclaim the genitals and the queer body as a powerful tool in assertion.
‘Raising the Skirt’ began as a three-day workshop funded by Live Arts Development Agency and was documented by Dawn Felicia Knox, each workshop is a deeply intimate space and created for an authentic experience. The first two workshops focused on biological function, menstruation and socio-cultural experiences of the vulva, they were designed for cis/queer women & queer and gender fluid people who have biologically functioning vagina and vulva's. We were working with very specific lines of enquiry, however I am working to develop a much more intersectional project with wider lines of enquiry.
Everyone involved in the project celebrates people of all genders and are active in fighting for gender equality and supporting the voices of individuals with a spectrum of experiences, the project is in it's very early stages of development and we need time to invest in research, conversation and to take action. The future for ‘Raising the Skirt’ is to be an inclusive space for dialogue and to be representative of all genders. I am very excited to have created a platform which has scope to address much wider questions about gender but unfortunately due to the projects grass roots, it is completely self funded and until we can invest the time to develop our own tool box and understanding, the structure of the workshops will remain the same for the short term.
Please also note that the people you see in these photographs are not models, they are participants who went through an application process to take part, and without their energy and commitment this project would never have been as strong as it is. If you have any information, text, memoirs, images or more that relate to this project or if you are interested in joining our next workshop please email Nicola at raisingtheskirthub@gmail.com
SPECIAL THANKS
I would like to thank Dawn Felicia Knox for her support and investment in the project and a special thanks to all 'Raising the Skirt' participants across every event and contribution, to each of those who have shared experiences and images of your body in hope that one day there will be a greater respect and understanding towards everyones experiences.
And finally to the ever wonderful Live Art Development Agency who invested in our very first workshop as part of their DIY initiative (artist workshops for artists. DIY 11 2014).
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/raisingtheskirt/
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1698360017042477/
WEBSITE LINKS FOR NICOLA HUNTER & DAWN FELICIA KNOX BELOW
Testimonials
"The experience has had a profound influence on my body image by and large, helping me to accept my naked body for what it is; natural, organic, real. Ive gained a true sense of the word ‘beautiful’ in how I apply it to my own body and female self. I am free and wild at heart, and I’m now not afraid to express it! I have taken inspiration from Nicola’s approach to the participatory element of the project and feel the drive to develop my own participatory project as part of my artistic practice as a result. It has been a real success!"
"I feel like I have just made a very small start in my own feelings and attitude towards my own body. I feel very proud to have been a part of this experience and I think it will encourage me to continue with a different relationship with my body."
"I am finding it easier to respond to situations, to make real authentic noises in intimate situations, to say "slow down", to say "more please", to say "I am scared", to feel stuff. It is also becoming more and more obvious how beautiful we all are and how doubting that really goes against any sort logic (emotional, intuitive, rational). It seems easier to sift out the valuable and substantial from the fluff and distraction."
"I significantly more connected with the experience of owning and embodying my vagina, but most of all, I feel attracted and lured to its appearance and nature more and more by the day. I can appreciate its honesty, authenticity and history, and feel excited about our future together, as opposed to feeling like it was just an arousing orifice for my own and others pleasure. Its more than that now, and I would like to have the opportunity to delve deeper into its ‘being’ whilst sharing the experience with others."