This workshop is part of the Vagina Museum's South Asian Heritage Month Programme. The event is open to people of all backgrounds and of all genders, but is run by and primarily for folks of South Asian descent.

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Healthcare Decoupage

In this workshop you'll be invited to hear the South Asian herstories of the medical realm, from indigenous practices to modern day trailblazers who forged their space within the male dominated fields, to ensure the women of their nation continued to receive the best care.

During this guided reflective workshop, you'll be invited to decoupage your own story or the stories of those who came before us - whether it’s an experience of care, resistance, or hope. Using simple decoupage techniques, we will explore how decoupaging with delicate materials can be both a meditative practice and a powerful form of storytelling. We will apply this new skill to upcycle your very own plant pot. No prior experience is needed; this workshop is open to all. Come along to learn a new skill, make new friends and get an upcycled plant pot (+seeds).

Who is this for?

Anyone with an interest in craft, personal storytelling, South Asian history, healthcare experiences, or creative activism. Whether you’ve been a patient, a caregiver, a healthcare professional or simply want to explore these themes, you are welcome to take part.

All materials will be provided. Just bring yourself, your story, and an open mind.

Facilitator Biography

Theeba’s (@theeba_lingeswary) practice investigates the ways in which the mind/body/spirit and work of women of colour have been perceived, treated and controlled throughout medical history. Whilst also honouring and celebrating the resistance and resilience of women in reclaiming medicine for themselves.

Their work combines historical research with creativity, and activism, using paper and textiles to challenge gender and racial biases in healthcare and wider society. This workshop is part of their ongoing personal pursuit to Foster Healing & Wholeness.

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South Asian Heritage Month at the Vagina Museum

Since 2022 the Vagina Museum has been in Bethnal Green in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, a vibrant and largely South Asian borough. Bangladeshis, and people from other parts of South Asia, have been a part of this community since the 1950’s, when the government encouraged Commonwealth citizens to move to the UK to help rebuild the country after World War Two.

Although we have South Asian volunteers and approximately 9% of our visitors identify as South Asian, there are currently no people of South Asian descent working for the Vagina Museum. We're a small team, but it is precisely this lack of representation that can lead to the kind of universalising narratives of which we are so critical. It is our responsibility, then, to put in the effort to bridge that gap. 

This isn’t about putting on one seminar or one exhibition, having one diversity hire or making one statement of solidarity. It has to be intentional and ongoing. With that in mind, we’re prioritising South Asian artists, poets, healthcare workers, and other organisers during South Asian Heritage Month with the aim of building our connections and networks within the community such that those relationships might continue to flourish after South Asian Heritage Month.

As this year’s theme suggests, we’re looking to put down some roots and see where those take us.

Find the whole programme on our website.

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