Menopuase Makeover

Belfast International Festival of Performance Art,

Belfast

Mar 2023

Duration 1.5 hrs

It was a privilege to be included in the impressive line up of international performance artists invited to make work for BIFPA 23. 

Menopause Makeover took place in the foyer of Ulster University and the Glass Box Gallery. The audience was invited to listen to my conversation with my grandmother Molly Brown, a staff nurse who died when I was 2 years old. I spoke to her about different symptoms of the menopause and how they affect women going about their day to day activities. With each symptom discussed, I add another layer of make up, added the symptom to the mirror, made a change to the outfit and posed for a selfie. The make up and clothes, prints and actions carried autobiographical stories and made connections with many of the  those that followed the conversation. The descriptions of symptoms covered the more commonly known and discussed effects the menopause can have as well as less well know and often missed or misdiagnosed issues. 

Documentation: Sandra Johnston, Elaine McGinn & Rainer Pagel

A woman wearing a leopard print headscarf and matching clothing examining a small mirror at a market or event with a group of people sitting in the background.
Woman standing indoors holding framed photos, with clothing and accessories displayed nearby, and two seated individuals in the background in a public space such as a waiting area or community center.
Three women inside a modern building near large glass windows, looking at and discussing animal-print clothing. The outside scene shows bicycles parked and rainy weather.
A woman with curly hair wearing a leopard print dress standing barefoot in front of a large mirror in a room with a glass window and door. Outside, it is raining with blurry reflections of city buildings and vehicles. Inside, there is a clothing rack
A woman is sitting in a, wearing a matching animal print outfit and a leopard print head covering. She is holding a lipstick or cosmetic item near her mouth, possibly applying makeup. There are other people in the background, some with bags or backpa
Woman dressed in leopard print clothing standing in front of a full-length mirror, taking a selfie in glass walled gallery space, with a wooden cabinet and a rainy street scene visible outside the window.
A woman wearing a leopard print dress and matching hat with a pearl decoration is standing near a large glass window, with blurred people and bicycles outside.
A woman stands barefoot indoors, wearing a leopard print headscarf and matching shawl, and beige shorts, looking at a standing mirror.
A woman wearing a leopard print coat and a leopard print hat is sitting at a makeup station inside a modern building with large windows. Several people are seated in the background, some using their phones, with buildings visible outside the windows.
Group of five young adults sitting in a waiting area, some looking at the camera, with cars visible outside through large windows behind them.
A woman wearing a colorful tie-dye top and matching pants, with a leopard print headwrap embellished with a flower and pearl detail, standing indoors near a window with a city street view in the background.
A woman wearing a leopard print dress and hat is performing on the floor, in a performance gesturel act. She has makeup on and is standing on one foot while holding her other leg.
A person dressed in a leopard print robe, standing on a tiled floor, with one leg raised and their hand adjusting a beige stocking on their leg. Various colorful clothing items hang on a rack in the background, and a smartphone lies on the floor near
A woman dressed in leopard print clothing and a matching leopard hat standing indoors near a large window. She is surrounded by clothes, shoes, and personal items, with some clothing hanging on a rack. The scene appears to be a dressing area or a bac
A woman takes a selfie in a mirror positioned in a public space, showing her wearing a leopard print headscarf and a pink top with a beige skirt. The reflection captures her standing with one leg slightly bent and holding her phone. The mirror has no
A woman with a leopard print headscarf and dress is posing while holding her leg. She is inside a room with a glass window, a coat rack with clothing, and various personal items on the floor, including a container of Vitamin E cream, shoes, and a wal
Woman in leopard print dress and headwrap taking a selfie in a full-length mirror inside a building with glass walls and outside street view.
A woman with short hair, wearing a leopard print headscarf, a red bra, and rainbow tie-dye pants, standing barefoot inside a store. She appears to be preparing for a performance or dance. There are shoes, a leopard print fabric, and a mirror in the s
A woman standing indoors in front of a large window, wearing a colorful tie-dye skirt and a leopard print headwrap. She appears to be adjusting a rainbow-colored cloth or towel. There is a full-length mirror showing her reflection, a pair of brown bo
A woman taking a selfie in a mirror, wearing a colorful tie-dye outfit, tall platform boots, a leopard print headscarf, and bold makeup. The mirror has handwritten notes on it, and there is a leopard-print cloth on the floor. Outside the window, rain
A woman wearing a colorful tie-dye dress and a leopard print hat appears to be performing or speaking in front of a seated audience at an indoor location with large glass windows. Six people are sitting on a bench, watching her, with some holding cup
A woman with a leopard print headband and colorful tie-dye dress applying makeup at a mirror, surrounded by makeup products on a leopard print stool.
A woman taking a selfie in a full-length mirror in a modern indoor space with large windows showing a rainy street outside. She has long brown hair, is wearing a shiny silver and black dress, and knee-high silver boots.
A woman sitting on a stool applying makeup to her face in a shopping mall, with three people seated on a bench behind her. The woman is dressed in a silver and black striped dress, has makeup brushes in her hand and makeup products on a table covered
A woman with long curly hair wearing a shiny silver and black outfit is taking a mirror selfie inside a store. The store has large windows showing a rainy street outside. The reflection shows her posing with one hand on her hip and holding her phone
A woman taking a selfie in a tall, wooden-framed mirror inside a store, with rain outside visible through large glass windows. There is a bicycle, a backpack, and some items on the floor inside the store.
A woman with long hair wearing black clothing is standing inside a store near large glass windows with rain outside. There's a mirror, shoes, apparel, and miscellaneous items on the floor, and a reflection of the street is visible through the window.