{{for|the museum in the UK|Vagina Museum}} {{short description|International internet project}} [[File:Vaginamuseum logo.jpg|thumb|Vaginamuseum logo]] The virtual '''Vaginamuseum''' is an international [[internet]] project, founded by the [[Austrians|Austrian]] artist, Kerstin Rajnar, in 2014.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.jetzt.de/interview/vagina-und-penis-sind-nicht-pornografisch-587195|title=Vagina und Penis sind nicht pornografisch|last=Eichhorn|first=Caroline|date=2014-06-13|work=Jetzt|access-date=2017-10-02|language=de-DE}}</ref> It consists in a virtual [[wikt:gallery|gallery]] and a virtual [[archive]] containing background information about the [[female sex]] and femininity. Various representations of female sexual organs indicate the existence of a female role model in social systems and allow conclusions to be drawn as to the importance of women in different environments. This project aims at promoting the artistic creation and debate about the female sex. It supports the positive meanings and appreciation of the words and body parts such as the [[Human vagina|vagina]], [[vulva]], and [[clitoris]]. The museum is considered the first to be devoted to the vagina.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://g24.at/Article563.html|title=Interview mit Kerstin Rajnar - frau mag rosa pink|last=Kahr|first=Christian|website=g24.at|language=de|access-date=2017-10-02|archive-date=2017-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220526/https://g24.at/Article563.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.woman.at/a/vaginamuseum|title=Vaginamuseum.at - eine Plattform für das weibliche Geschlecht|last=Kupsa|first=Nadja|date=2016-08-09|work=WOMAN.AT|access-date=2017-10-02|language=de|archive-date=2017-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002215720/https://www.woman.at/a/vaginamuseum|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.refinery29.de/2016/11/126270/virtuelles-vaginamuseum-zeitgenoessische-interpretationen-des-weiblichen-geschlechts|title=Ein Museum rund um die Vagina – peinlich oder längst überfällig?|last=Johne|first=Stephanie|date=2016-11-21|work=Refinery 29|access-date=2017-10-02|language=German}}</ref>
== About == The Vaginamuseum communicates informations and is an educational platform.<ref name=":3" /> Experts of [[art history]], [[health care]], [[Medicine|medical science]], as well as artists of all disciplines, are creating this platform. The archive displays conceptual and historical texts and other articles and contributions about the vagina, the vulva and the clitoris.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.l-mag.de/news-1010/viva-la-vulva.html|title=Viva la Vulva|last=Schupp|first=Karin|language=de}}</ref> The curated gallery shows selected artworks which stimulate new thinking about the female genital and lead to new perspectives. Rajnar's vision is that the museum can help improve people's negative attitudes about the vagina which are shaped through culture and media.<ref name=":3" />
The Vaginamuseum elaborated concepts on the topic: ''Art and Culture'' and ''Life and Limb _ the positive Power of Feminity''.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://www.vaginamuseum.at/about-en|title=About Vaginamuseum|website=Vaginamuseum|access-date=2018-04-17}}</ref>
Vaginamuseum is registered at the [[European Union Intellectual Property Office]] (EUIPO).<ref name=":2" />
== Exhibitions in the gallery ==
=== Vagina 2.0 === The virtual opening exhibition curated by the [[media artist]] and [[curator]] Doris Jauk-Hinz broaches the issue of current terms and subjective meanings of the [[Sex organ|female sexual organs]]. Reflections in dealing with the term vagina are based on ideas, expectations, attributions, associations and emotions by means of art.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vaginamuseum.at/KUNSTundKULTUR/vagina20-concept-en|title=Concept Vagina 2.0|last=Jauk-Hinz|first=Doris|website=Vaginamuseum|access-date=2018-04-17}}</ref> The artistic inputs range from earlier depictions of vulva symbols in different civilizations and times to the life and work on [[Social media|social media platforms]] and [[sex-positive feminism]] in [[cyberspace]].<ref name=":4">{{cite web|url=https://thegap.at/ich-erhielt-auch-von-frauenorganisationen-eine-absage/|title=Pink ist nicht antifeministisch|last=Obermüller|first=Nadine|date=2016-05-31|website=The Gap|language=de}}</ref>
Artists (alphabetical order): Collective AMAE (GB), Teresa Ascencao (CA), Mattia Biagi (US), [[Iwona Demko]] (PL), Collective Freudenweide & Villefort (AT), [[Faith Holland|Faith Holland (US)]], Barbara Klampfl / Gisela Reimer (AT), [[Petra Mattheis|Petra Mattheis (DE)]], Sofia Ntontis (AT), Angela Proyer (AT), [[Melinda Rackham|Melinda Rackham (AU)]], Rosa Roedelius (AT), Grit Scholz (DE), Ulla Sladek (AT), Christina Strasser (AT), [[Myriam Thyes|Myriam Thyes (DE)]], Dorothée Zombronner (DE)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vaginamuseum.at/KUNSTundKULTUR/vagina20-en|title=Exhibition Vagina 2.0|website=Vaginamuseum|access-date=2018-04-17}}</ref>
=== Geburt_to animate === The second exhibition is an exploration of the “inner“ functional female body as a point of reception and a place where new life is born – a cultural place of origin. The artistic contributions address natural and artificial processes that create life within a cultural dynamic. They depict desires for the composition of “creation“ and range from the metaphoric realization in artistic processes to the “self-design“ of life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vaginamuseum.at/LEIBundLEBEN/geburt-concept|title=Concept Geburt_to animate|last=Jauk-Hinz|first=Doris|website=Vaginamuseum|access-date=2018-04-17}}</ref> Articles on the topic of birth complete the exhibition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vaginamuseum.at/LEIBundLEBEN/geburt-article-en|title=Articles on the topic birth|website=Vaginamuseum|access-date=2018-04-17}}</ref>
Artists (alphabetical order): Zara Alexandrova (DE), Teresa Ascencao (CA), Rachelle Beaudoin (US), Yvonne Beelen (NL), Ada Kobusiewicz (AT/POL), Renate Kordon (AT), Bernhard Krähenmann (CH), Gertrude Moser-Wagner (AT), [[Boryana Rossa|Boryana Rossa (US)]], Barbara Schmid / Ulla Sladek (AT), Maja Smekar (SI)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vaginamuseum.at/LEIBundLEBEN/geburt-presentation|title=Art contribution for the virtual exhibition Geburt_to animate|website=Vaginamuseum|access-date=2018-04-17}}</ref>
== Contributions in the archive ==
=== Art history === This contribution was developed by the [[History of art|art historian]] Sara Buchbauer. It gives an overview of the depiction of the female sex starting from the European [[Paleolithic]] up to [[Contemporary art|present day art]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vaginamuseum.at/KUNSTundKULTUR/arthistory-concept|title=Concept Art history|last=Buchbauer|first=Sara|website=Vaginamuseum|access-date=2018-04-17}}</ref> The texts about different periods serve as an introduction to offer information on the political and cultural events of the time, on the women's role and stylistic characteristics relating to art. Around 100 art works of particular periods were chosen to exemplify particular times.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=https://www.at.fem.com/liebe-lust/ein-museum-fuer-die-vagina|title=Ein Museum für die Vagina|date=2014-07-13|website=fem|language=de|access-date=2018-04-17|last1=Com|first1=fem|archive-date=2018-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024336/https://www.at.fem.com/liebe-lust/ein-museum-fuer-die-vagina|url-status=dead}}</ref> They illustrate the style of the period and serve as documents for particular stages of development.
=== Vaginalogy === This contribution was developed by the [[physician]] Jana Studnicka. It offers insights into the topics of woman, body, [[Human sexuality|sexuality]] and society. Not only medical, but also social and psychological aspects of [[femininity]] are discussed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vaginamuseum.at/about-lifeandlimb-vaginalogy|title=Synopsis Vaginalogy|last=Vaginamuseum|access-date=2018-04-17}}</ref> The content changes between [[gender identity]], [[sexual orientation]], external and internal female sexual organs, [[Birth control|contraception]], [[reproduction]], [[menstruation]], [[sexual medicine]], [[violence against women]], etc. This contribution reflects the current state of research as well as different perspectives on various issues and problem areas. It clarifies present thought patterns and presents the latest scientific insights.<ref name=":6">{{cite web|url=http://www.vaginamuseum.at/LEIBundLEBEN/vaginalogy-concept|title=Concept Vaginalogy|last=Studnicka|first=Jana|website=Vaginamuseum|access-date=2018-04-17}}</ref>
The newly created term ''Vaginalogy'' doesn't yet exist in the general language and consists of the word Vagina and the suffix [[-logy]]. The idea was to set a counterpoint to the medical term [[Gynaecology|gynecology]]. Because gynecology is primarily concerned with the teaching of the diseases of the female body.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" />
== Press ==
In 2014, the Jetzt-Magazin of the [[Süddeutsche Zeitung]] published an interview with Kerstin Rajnar and with Hjortur Gisli Sigurdsson, director of the [[Icelandic Phallological Museum]] in Reykjavík. In the interview Rajnar reported that the Vaginamuseum had been heavily criticized even before the opening, also because of state funding.<ref name=":0" />
Stephanie Johne wrote on the website ''[[Refinery29]]'': "Gender paradigms must be questioned critically and overcome once and for all. The virtual Vaginamuseum makes a crucial contribution to a more positive perception of the female sex, to such a degree as art contributes to its acceptance on a broader level. This is why its online presence determines its offline presence at the end of the day!"<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />
== Financing == The bilingual Vaginamuseum, translated by Christine Wilhelm<ref name=":4" /> is supported by the art department of the [[Government of Austria|Austrian government]], the Cultural Department of [[Styria]], the Department for Women, anti-discrimination and equal treatment of [[Burgenland]] and by the cities of [[Vienna]] and [[Graz]].<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":2" />
==See also== *[[Vagina and vulva in art]] *[[Culture and menstruation]]
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * [http://www.vaginamuseum.at/ Official site] {{Sex museums}}
[[Category:Virtual museums]] [[Category:Museums established in 2014]] [[Category:Museums in Austria]] [[Category:Vagina and vulva in art]]