Maybe you too remember the pink conical bra that Madonna wore in her Blond Ambition tour that was designed by Jean Paul Gaultier? Far from being restrictive, Gaultier’s version was defiant, enabling Madonna to exude authority and power as well as acknowledging her as a major female role model of the time. Now in her sixties, she’s lost none of her defiance.
I look forward to many more years of subversive behavior — pushing boundaries, standing up to the patriarchy, and most of all, enjoying my life.”
mADONNA
When I was asked to make an artwork for Juliet about her breast cancer experiences, I was struck by her strength and determination. In particular, the bravery that she showed to stand up to the sexist and paternalistic assumptions of her health care professionals during her breast cancer treatment. Her surgeon eventually agreed to perform her second, symmetrising and empowering, mastectomy eighteen months after the first.
Like Madonna, Juliet is challenging societal assumptions of what makes a woman. It would have been all too easy to want to hide after a single and then double mastectomy. Instead, Juliet became involved with the Behind the Scars campaign with a photo of her topless appearing in an ad from Piccadilly Circus in London to Times Square in New York, to inspire and empower other women to consider all the options after breast cancer.
Women’s health needs to change. You can help by buying this artwork to support @mortalandstrong, registered charity (No. 1209448) for people with life changing/incurable health conditions. So DM me if you want to make an offer. All monies will go directly to the charity.
Mortal And Strong is the first and only charity to provide education and support for young people (18-60) facing their mortality – living with life changing or incurable health conditions. Delivering innovative health awareness campaigns, led by medical professionals, reforming how chronic health is addressed. Help us to change the experience from pre-diagnosis, through treatment, post-diagnosis and palliative care.
Jen Cable Art 