The Great Wall of Vagina -- It’s not vulgar, it’s vulva!

As the web-site puts it: “It is fascinating and revealing , yet far from being pornographic: It is not erotic art nor is it titillation. McCartney has pulled off an amazing trick, to deliberately make the sexual non-sexual and take you much deeper. One is able to stare without shame but in wonder and amazement at this exposé of human variety.”

Of course, it is light trickery, whatever the gloss: e.g. the justification that one of the main aims of the project was to highlight the “worrying trend to create 'perfect' vaginas” and that cosmetic labial surgeries is “ the modern day equivalent of female genital mutilation.”

Indeed, there are more four hundred plaster casts on display than words to describe them with; nevertheless, there is a useful guide (£1) littered with unpronounceable highlights of the 10 panels -- big ones, small ones, reconstructed/deconstructed ones, pierced ones, and occluded ones. One glaring omission is the lack of any example of a circumcised one or, as the politically correct would put, it a genital mutilated one.

The artist asked around the various charities who specialised in work with such women, but they declined. Perhaps, the exhibition could be timed to take place on the annual International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation on February 6th.

The studio also has many other works which gives much insight into his oeuvre: eg: Sexidermy, involved taxidermied animals reworked with sexual overtones.

And an early work Lucky Strike of 16 mousetraps, baited with eponimouse fags, makes chilling point(s).

Like all art, it raises more questions than it answers: does it hurt, like a Brazilian Wax?

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here