Monokini 2.0 is a social art project that re-examines popular culture’s narrow view of a woman’s ideal appearance. We strive to expand what is accepted and considered beautiful by designing a swimwear collection for women who have gone through breast cancer. Swimwear is conventionally designed for women who haven’t suffered a mastectomy. The fact is that many women who have had one breast removed due to breast cancer don’t wish to have breast reconstruction surgery, they wish to continue their lives with one or no breasts at all.
A group of Finnish fashion designers are designing a swimwear collection for Monokini 2.0. The swimwear collection is modeled by women who have gone through breast cancer. The collection will be also exhibited in a performative catwalk venue. The artistic director of Monokini 2.0 is the art duo Tärähtäneet ämmät / Nutty Tarts. The original idea is by Elina Halttunen (PhD), the woman with one tit.
These photographs will be exhibited in Norway, Finland and Sweden.
MONOKINI 2.0 MANIFESTO
We think that the current focus on a breast-reconstruction after mastectomy as the only way to a full life, is a breast-fixated way of seeing what a woman is. We want to incite a positive self-image of breast-operated women by showing that you can be whole, beautiful and sexy even with just one breast or with no breasts at all. Our other aim is to dig into the restrictive social taboo on what is considered appropriate – of exposing something that is not there. Seeing an exposed breast is considered nakedness, but why is exposing no breast also considered nakedness?
“It had to do with more than what to wear on the beach. It was about a changing culture throughout all society, about freedom and emancipation.”
Quote by Rudi Gernreich,
the designer of the original Monokini