“Diagnosis of endometriosis is often delayed, with an average of between 6 and 8 years between onset of symptoms and diagnosis” - as quoted by The Australian Institute of Health and welfare.

Get well Soon: Questioning medical and social bias through photographic practices is a queer feminist photographic series using collaboration between myself and the models through discussing their health experiences and then adapting their symptoms/ experiences through performative kitsch aesthetics within digital staged photographs.

The images depict an array of health experiences both mental and physical from Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovaries, Lesion on the brain, Chronic headaches to Dissociative Identity disorder, depression and Obsessive compulsion disorder. Unfortunately AFAB people often face the difficulty of being misdiagnosed, dismissed which can become costly both causing further physical and mental illness as well as financial issues from both having to take time off work or for having to seek out multiple medical practitioners for advice.

This topic is a ongoing global issue for AFAB bodies this is made evident by the array of artwork made on the topic inspiring the series “get well soon” includes Georgie Wileman “This is endometriosis”, Frida Kahlo self portraits surrounding her experiences with miscarriage and ongoing health issues such as Polio and Alannah Dair with her sculptural fabric work based on invasive surgery to check for endometriosis.

Visual inspiration for the work can be found in Juno Calypso and Mia Mala Mcdonald artistic work with their similar use of studio lighting in a location setting as well as bold colourful imagery.

Making the work intractable by picking up the cards and reading them allows for the photographs to be viewed in a more personal way you can connect more deeply with each individual and their experiences.

Foucults knowledge equals power is the methodology focused on in the work. Power is gained from the audience and models as they understand the lived experience of chronic illness but simultaneously power is gained from educating the audience on the topic as the more people are aware of the issues AFAB people face the more likely we will be able to advocate for change within the medical world.