A large glass case full of antique medical tools related to abortion. An antique brown leather examination chair with leather stirrups. A recording of an accusatory voicemail. These are just some of the items that make up a new show at the Museum of Sex: “On Abortion: And the Repercussions of Lack,” by Barcelona-based artist Laia Abril. This is the first chapter of the artist’s long-term project “A History of Misogyny”, an exhibit that will interact with abortion and other issues globally through a historical context and connection to the present day.
“The exhibit documents and conceptualizes the dangers and damages caused by women’s lack of access to legal, safe, and affordable abortion, drawing on the past to highlight the long and continous erotion of women’s reproductive rights to the present day,” according to the museum press release.
Black and white photography is the main medium in the show, and each photograph was accompanied by text about the subject’s experience with abortion. Each piece is accompanied by a description and identification of the person on display. Many of the portraits and photographs of people who told their abortion stories are censored in some way.
In one room a teal phone plays a recording of a voicemail recieved at a Florida abortion clinic of someone saying, “you like killing babies, don’t you?” The chilling voice through the phone shows first-hand the harrasment that women seeking abortion have and continue to go through. The collection of video, photography, and audio created a multi-media display of Abril’s work on abortion and common health issues for people with vulvas.
In a time where abortion is a matter discussed throughout politics, and the 2020 election coming quickly, Laia Abril’s On Abortion is timely now more than ever. The New School’s high population of femme-identifying people makes abortion an important and relevant topic for the community.
Shelby Heye, who attended the exhibit and works at the museum as a retail supervisor, said, “[This exhibit] really shows that [abortion] is a much more complex issue than pro-life makes it out to be.” When comparing this exhibit to others that are usually featured in the museum Heye said, “It’s not as fun and sexy as a lot of the stuff we normally show,” describing it as “a gut-punch, but an important one.”
Lissa Rivera, a fine arts photographer and the curator at The Museum of Sex spoke about Abril’s work. “I chose Laia’s work because I was so impressed by the layers and the effort that went into creating it. She identifies as an artist, but so much more is here than just traditional portraits,” said Rivera in an interview with the Free Press.
Abril will be coming to The New School on March 28 and 29 to hold a workshop on creating and developing long-term projects such as her own A History of Misogyny. At the workshop there will also be some examples of Abril’s work to help students and other participants gain a better understanding of how to develop their own projects.
On Abortion will be on view at The Museum of Sex until Oct. 15, 2020.