polette Places the Vulva In Your Face
In 2017 a study showed that 55% of women thought that their own vulva was ugly, a sad statistic but not shocking. Women are constantly told that their bodies are not only unimportant but also not in their control. polette and the artists involved in this project hope that this collection and auction can move in the right direction for representation and appreciation of the vulva. The uniquely designed collection consists of various expressive sun- and optical frames depicting vulvas in all shapes and forms. Putting what many consider taboo right on people's faces. polette is joined by leading female artists such as Viva La Vulva Casting, Pink Bits, Charlotte Willcox, and Kylie Marume, that have created their own tributes to the vulva.
The Orgasmic collection is available from November 3 via polette.com. The final artworks can be viewed in full on the website and will be auctioned live through the Orgasmic page on November 17 at 12:00 CET, with all proceeds going to Plan International.
office was able to speak to Elodie & Marianne from the polette design team to ask them about the project. Read the interview below.
What was the inception of this collaboration?
This project comes from the feeling of being fed-up with the representation of sexuality. women’s bodies have always been seen and represented as sexualised, as a tool for the male body to achieve the orgasm. It was about time we addressed it and showed women as sexually independent from men! It’s a celebration, and an ode to living one’s pleasure fully, no matter the taboo!
What is your favorite piece in the collection?
L’origine ! Its twisted aviator shape is a subtle but obvious wink to the clit ! Also because it’s the origin of pleasure, that we discovered very late, and we get so much more pleasure than men (sorry dudes!). It’s unlimited, and we need to talk more about it, to tell you how fucking goos it is !
What does representation of the vulva mean to you?
Equality ! We should be able to voice and talk about vulvas as much as we make penis-focused references ! Then it builds a fair relationship between representations. We shouldn’t be scared or disgusted, but we should be communicating about these things, and be ready to learn and exchange. The relationship society has with these representations is still deeply rooted in patriarchal views, and there are a lot of prejudices that need to be questioned. Starting the talk about positive sexuality is a good way of rebuilding the foundation of a more understanding and open society. It’s also about being proud and aware of one’s body. Everyone knows how to draw a dick, but if you ask about drawing a vulva, many are still clueless!
How did you find the artists to work with?
We went looking for artists that shared the same vision, people who would understand the importance of celebrating women’s sexuality, without having to conform to heteronormative decorum or be apologetic about voicing one’s pleasure! Whether it’s with Regards Coupables or Lana Prins, or all of the artists submitting to the online auction we are launching on the 15th of November, they had all started to talk about the subject on their own platforms, with their own voice!
What do you hope to come from this collaboration?
Awareness! We really want people to get the message and be able to understand where this collection comes from. It seemed weird to us, that a women-led company in which every leading or managing position is held by a woman, to comply to the taboo about women’s bodies & pleasure! We are not the first to talk or visualise this subject, the artists with whom we worked on this campaign, have been pushing the boundaries of female sexuality for years! 
What kinds of conversations do you want this collection to inspire?
We’d love for people in general to explore their own pleasure, make it a celebration! That is, if they want to, but the point is to voice the importance of celebrating everyone’s sexuality! The focus on women’s bodies is to tackle a taboo and debunk the idea that women can’t be sexual and vocal about it!
How do you think connecting to one’s own body helps with every day life?
The more you connect to your body, the more you build a relationship and care for it. Celebrating the body, knowing it, hence, knowing everything that’s beneficial for it, evolving towards a deeper aspect of self-care !
Check out the art for auction below.
