Perfect Cycle by Muthesius Kunsthochschule

Menstruation is a subject where data remains surprisingly vague — dominated by averages that fail to capture the individual realities of those who menstruate. This gap inspired the creation of a data sculpture to represent the "perfect" average menstrual cycle while highlighting the urgent need for more comprehensive and accurate research.
The sculpture is crafted from old bed linen, fabric long associated with the shame of bloodstains that menstruators have historically sought to avoid.
At its core is a white-stitched grid, symbolizing the menstrual cycle across a lifetime. The grid contains 83 vertical lines,
representing the average life expectancy of women, and 365 horizontal lines, one for each day of the year. The embroidered
cycles begin at age 12.5 and end at age 48, visualizing each day of bleeding through the density and shape of the stitches.
The first day, marked by severe pain, is jagged and densely stitched, while subsequent days, with lighter bleeding and diminished discomfort, are embroidered more delicately. This progression captures the ebb and flow of pain and blood loss over the cycle.