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‘CENSORED’ exhibition by Every Body’s Story

Thursday 14 September 2023 18:10
Wednesday 20 September 2023 19:25

Centrespace Gallery & Studios 6 Leonard Lane Bristol, England, BS1 1EA United Kingdom (map)

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Private View: Thursday 14th September, 7.30 pm
Open Daily: 15 - 20th September, 10 am - 6 pm

event list and tickets at the bottom of the page

CENSORED exhibition by Every Body’s Story

An exhibition of 300 golden nipple casts of women and non-binary people, exploring nipple censorship and unwanted sexualisation.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

150 women and non-binary people have had moulds of their nipples made, to then be cast in golden Jesmonite by body casting artist Ellen Downes. Their golden nipples will be exhibited alongside their experiences.

"CENSORED" will showcase a collection of 300 golden nipple casts created by Ellen Downes, founder of Every Body's Story. The nipple casts will line the walls of Centrespace Gallery from 15th-20th September and create a powerful installation challenging censorship and celebrating nipple diversity.

This exhibit explores topics of censorship, public breastfeeding, and sexual harassment.

The exhibition will be ticketed (starting from £3), open to the public 10 AM-6 PM and there will be (separately ticketed) evening events in the gallery space.

A ‘CENSORED’ book will accompany the exhibit featuring photographs of the casts and the experiences of the 150 participants for the project.

ABOUT THE ARTIST/EVERY BODY’S STORY

Body casting artist Ellen Downes (South West 30 under 30 list) founded Every Body’s Story in 2021, it is **Bristol’s first body casting studio**. Her work centres around **celebrating women and non-binary people’s bodies** and the **power of storytelling**. She spent 9 weeks working with 150 women and non-binary people who travelled to her studio in Barton Hill, Bristol to be cast ahead of the exhibition.

*"This project is to* ***challenge unwanted sexualisation and censorship*** *of our nipples. I want it to spark conversations. I want this work to be part of change, towards a future where exposing our nipples isn’t connected to feeling ashamed or unsafe,*” she says. “*Every Body’s Story is* ***a platform to raise the voices of marginalised genders*** *and create a space for* ***sharing the stories that we are so often forced to carry in silence****. Our bodies are perpetually objectified and so for this project I am turning an often shamed part of our bodies into objects, on our terms and in a really beautiful, empowering way*.”

QUOTES FROM WOMEN/NON-BINARY PEOPLE CAST FOR THE EXHIBITION

“My body casting experience was comfortable, peaceful and playful. It feels great to say I have been a part of something that challenges the male gaze.”

“This is such an empowering exhibition to be a part of. I can’t wait to see my nipples golden on the walls alongside the others, it really feels like we’re coming together in power and resistance.”

“I am tired of seeing our nipples being pixelated. I’m grateful to be part of an exhibition showcasing body diversity, and create a space for us to appreciate the beauty of a part of us we often have to hide.”