TRP Editions: TIME

Clara Peeters is the best-known female Flemish artist of her era (1607 -21). For what is known about her background she was established between Antwerp and Amsterdam. Peeters mainly produced still-life paintings and her focus on spreads of daily used items, such as trinkets and foods, depicted Nederlandish and Flemish culture of the time. The style of her work, in particular, is called ‘vanitas’. Dripping in symbolism.

Symbolic artwork has been used for centuries to portray the transience of life and the unavoidable nature of death. Memento mori, anyone?? Vanitas still-lifes were particularly prevalent in The Netherlands during the 16th & 17th centuries and would often depict symbols of wealth alongside symbols which represented mortality.

What makes Peeters work interesting is the fact that what you see, in her 31 known, signed works, as just pretzels, cheeses, knives, and timepieces being splayed about actually has much deeper meaning. Deeper than whatever is “shellaced” on these paintings to preserve them.

We’ve selected Peeters work, ‘self-portrait’, c. 1618, for our discussion on T I M E. This is portrayal is literally her and her vanity, for her cosmetics and such as she wished to depict. Reimagined as her pondering her time of menstruation against lunar and parallel timelines that currently resemble ours but with an old-school period tracker. Peeters still-lifes were the normcore selfies of this generation.

Artists either rise to a level of their contemporaries or they are ahead of their time.

We are the rebels that aim to break societal shackles to empower everyone in their menstrual journeys. We know that menstruation is a natural process that should not be shrouded in shame and secrecy. We denounce the patriarchal norms that limit opportunities during menstruation. We believe that menstrual cycles should not hinder anyone’s success, education, or work. We demand for the elimination of menstrual stigma and discrimination in all spheres of life.

We pledge to work towards creating a world where access to menstrual products and education is a basic human right regardless of gender, ethnicity, age or economic status. It is time to prioritise menstrual health and provide access to safe, hygienic, and sustainable menstrual products for all those in need.

We stand for complete menstrual wellness, not just for our physical health but for our mental and emotional health as well.

We must reclaim this sign of life-giving power. Menstruation is a strength, NOT a weakness. It is time to break the taboos.

We dare to create a world where menstruation is not just accepted, but celebrated. It is time to embrace it. We’re not here to skirt around the bush, we may joke about our flows (because we can), we’ll discuss gastrointestinal issues during our period, and you’re gonna see blood. We provide an intersectional space to feature every experience in menstruation.

We will use the discourse of art, literature, technology, humanities and public policy to effectively carry out our mission. We call on all anyone who isn’t afraid of breaking the status quo to stand with us in this movement towards menstrual wellness and empowerment.

This isn’t just a rebellion. This isn’t just a revolution. This is a renaissance.

This is OUR renaissance.

The Renaissance Period is a taboo-busting, digital platform providing all those who menstruate (and their allies!) with personalized options for their menstruation needs via subscription boxes (coming soon) and other relevant products, engaging content, and an inclusive community to support them.

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