Pop-Up art exhibition explores controversies about menopause

A new pop-up art exhibition by Lucy Bink, a research-driven artist from the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, delves into the controversies surrounding menopause and patriarchal ideas about gender. Organized in collaboration with Innovation Exchange Amsterdam (IXA) and the Art in Health Science @Amsterdam UMC (AHSA) platform, this exhibition aims to promote health and well-being through art, focusing on creativity in healthcare, education, and science.

Menopause is gaining more attention in society, with institutions like Amsterdam UMC leading large-scale research to help women navigate this transition more healthily. Their focus includes sleep and mental health, physical health, and work-related issues.

“I do not accept what has been made of me”

The exhibition, titled “I do not accept what has been made of me,” features a significant piece created from two embroidered silkscreen textiles. This work critiques patriarchal views on menopause, specifically referencing the harmful 1966 book Feminine Forever by Robert A. Wilson. By reworking the text through embroidery—a historically undervalued technique in women’s art—Bink transforms archival materials into symbols of self-determination. The combination of photography and silkscreen in her work emphasizes resilience and the urgent need to rewrite menopause narratives.

Closing soon! Be quick to look!

The exhibition is open to the public from January 30th to February 28th, 2025, in the central entrance of the Psychiatry Building (P1) at the AMC location.

More about the artist

Lucy Bink is known for her exploration of the relationship between gender and power. Her multidisciplinary approach combines painting, performance, poetry, textiles, and archival research to highlight feminist themes such as menstruation, menopause, and body politics. Bink’s work challenges patriarchal narratives and invites open dialogue about how identities and experiences are constructed and remembered.