Sense of Stigma is an exhibition showcasing artwork in the form of printmaking, interactive art, ceramics and sculpture. Mellissa Monsoon shares her lived experience and journey as a fat woman in healthcare and society. Monsoon invited the public and healthcare professionals to engage with the exhibition respectfully, learning about how to speak about body types and taking part in workshops to make sense of the stigma through visual art; changing the way people see and speak about larger bodies.

 

The exhibition explores the barriers faced in healthcare through sharing experiences of women living with a brain condition; Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH). This invisible condition affects predominantly women and has no known cause or cure. IIH has been heavily stigmatised as there is a correlation between having the condition and being overweight, but there is currently no research . Due to the stigma of obesity, there is limited understanding from healthcare professionals, many women feel isolated and unable to access healthcare needed to manage their condition.

 

September is IIH (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension) Awareness month, where the artist will be running workshops and having conversations with the public. This exhibition is supported by the Arts Council and IIHUK Charity.