Petal
PETALis a photographic series by Bex Day, created in celebration of the uniqueness of the vulva. Each vulva pictured in the collection is covered by either a single petal or flower to simultaneously reflect their shared qualities and individuality in an effort to dismantle the taboos that envelop female genitalia.
Colloquial terms for the vagina, including “pussy”, “cunt” and “gash”, have all been adopted as negatives in the English language; being used as insults, curses or as an insinuation of weakness or passivity. In society as we know it, the vagina has for too long been perceived as the lesser sexual organ, conceptualised not on its qualities but what it lacks in comparison to the penis. Even the word vagina itself evokes a squeamishness among many, highlighting the urgent need for a change of perspective.
Young children, especially people who are socialised and raised as female, are brought up to name their private parts “flower” and “foo-foo” among other diminutive names. This foundation has created a public misconception of what is considered a “normal” vagina, partially due to typecasting in porn and portrayals in mainstream media, but also the result of cultural censorship.
The shape, colour and size of each petal has been chosen by each individual featured to represent how they see their own vagina. The series aims to unify female, non-binary and female-identifying individuals by showing the similarities of their vaginas rather than focusing on what is considered different.
Spanning varying ages, races, genders, hair types, sizes and shapes, the series is a captivating and colourful compilation, with each image being accompanied by a message written by the subject about their own feelings about and experiences of their bodies.
Bex Day
Bex Day is a photographer and director from London. After working as a photo assistant for Ryan McGinley during her time in New York, Day returned to London to become photo editor of PYLOT Magazine, an all-analogue fashion and arts publication with an ethos for zero beauty retouching. This laid the foundation for her own practice, challenging rigid beauty ideals within her work and focusing predominantly on the themes of gender, identity, diversity and freedom of choice.
Day has lectured about her work at Nicer Tuesdays (It’s Nice That), The University of Cambridge, The Hepworth Gallery, and the Vogue Italiaexhibitions The Female Gaze in 2016 and All That Man Is – Fashion and Masculinity Now in 2018. She was also nominated for the following awards: the Magnum Graduate Award 2016, the C/O Berlin Talent Award 2020, This is Gender 2020, the Wolf Suschitzky Prize 2021, the Royal Photographic Society IPE 163 Shortlist 2021 and the British Journal of Photography Portrait of Humanity Shortlist 2021.
In April 2019, Day completed her first solo exhibition and film, titled Hen, at Herrick Gallery, London, which centred around the UK’s older transgender and non-binary communities. It was featured on BBC Breakfast, Channel 4 News and Buzzfeed, and in Vogue Italia, Twin, Vice,i-D, It’s Nice That, Refinery29, 10 Magazine, Dazed and Confused, and AnOther Magazine.
In July 2022, Day displayed her series and film Children of Covidat Offshoot Gallery, London. The series explored the impact of the pandemic on children aged 4 to 13. Channel 4 created a micro-documentary based on the series, and it was also featured by Wallpaper, AnOther Magazine, The Sunday Times Magazine, Vogue Italia, the Royal Photographic Society and The British Journal of Photography.
Her editorial and commercial clients include Adidas, Adobe, AnOther Magazine, Apple, Bodyform, Burberry, Dazed and Confused, The Face, Fendi, Harper’s Bazaar, i-D, Levi’s, Louis Vuitton, The New York Times, Stella McCartney, Swarovski and Vogue Italiaand Vogue Mexico.
