Wisdom of the Womb
In early 2021, artist and activist Marisa Papen reached a point where her periods became increasingly debilitating and excruciating — both physically and emotionally. For most of her life, that hadn’t been the case. But she had also spent years constantly traveling, never staying in one place for more than a few weeks at a time. It wasn’t until the pandemic forced life to slow down that her menstruation took center stage.
Marisa reflects, “After years of uneventful periods, suddenly that moment of the month shook me and left me stranded on broken, unstable ground. I had never felt my body like this before — anywhere I’d normally look to find my center, nothing was to be found.”
During one cycle, she decided to bleed directly onto paper. Seeing her blood with such clarity for the first time captivated her and deepened her ongoing quest for healing.
Art of Healing
Through this journey, Marisa came into deep contact with both the physical and emotional dimensions of herself. Often, she found herself curled up on the floor in a fetal position — crying, shaking, and overwhelmed by pain. Her blood was heavy with clots, her emotions heightened, leaving her deeply vulnerable and at times consumed by depression and anxiety. At one point, she was rushed to the emergency room after losing nearly five cups of blood within a few hours, far beyond her normal flow, as her strength began to leave her body.
Each month, she began journaling the sensations in her body and mind, documenting the patterns and features of her cycle. She also started working intensively with a practitioner of Chinese medicine, incorporating herbs and acupuncture into her healing process. Through the I Ching, she explored her subconscious for clues and insights into the wound — her own, her lineage’s, and that of the collective feminine.
After 13 months, her clots had reduced to the size of peas, if present at all, and her pain subsided to the point where she no longer relied on medication. Her emotional wellbeing was not only restored, but became more balanced and grounded than before. Through art, writing, and close observation, she came to experience her monthly bleeding as profoundly sacred — a force that synchronizes her whole being with the rhythms of nature.
Exhibition
Flow of Life was part of the group exhibition “The New Ark” produced by ART CAN DIE. Presented at River City Bangkok from Sept 1 - Oct 16, 2022, the exhibition featured 13 international artists who created works spreading a message of unity and connectivity. Under the patronage of the Embassy of Belgium, “The New Ark” was the first of its kind to be fully funded by a cryptocurrency and its community.
We are currently seeking to connect with aligned galleries and museums to exhibit this intimate body of work. If you are a curator, and this speaks to you, please get in touch.
Credits
FLOW OF LIFE manifested through the coming together of Marisa Papen and Michael Chichi. Within their container of love they re-member that which has been separated. They hold a magnetic field of opposites, generating a fertile current that carries one another to the depths of their beings. They create under the visionary artist duo of DOUBLE BEING. Their work bridges photography, poetry, film, publication, design, objects & music — exploring body freedom, relational polarity & interbeing.
www.doublebeing.com
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a double being project
www.doublebeing.com