University News Last updated 13 June 2013
A Birmingham City University artist’s nine-month project to design wallpaper made of photographs of hundreds of women’s breasts has gone on show in Birmingham.
Sam Pooley unveiled her wallpaper installation at Birmingham City University’s Fine Art Degree Show this week.
A total of 840 women from across the country volunteered to take part in the project; with images of 264 women being used in the final design. 38-year-old Sam said the images were subtly displayed beneath the veil of a traditional damask pattern that brought “a familiar domesticity to the design”. She is now looking for a retailer to work with her on developing the project further.
The wallpaper is digitally printed, comes in 10 different colours, and is to go on sale at £100 per roll. 500 signed and framed pieces of the wallpaper are also available to order. And 25% of the proceeds will go to Coppafeel, the UK charity that educates men and women about how to check for breast cancer.
Sam, from Shrewsbury, said the project had been an incredible emotional journey. “I have met so many inspirational women; women who have survived breast cancer, pregnant mums, grandmothers, women who loved their breasts, women who hated them; but all of them united in a determination to raise awareness about breast cancer.
“I am so very proud of all the women, so very grateful to them for taking part. I think that what we have created together is a commentary about ordinary women and how they feel about their bodies in the 21st century. What is striking, when you see the images side-by-side, is how very different we all are.”
The volunteers’ comments, talking about their breasts and their involvement in the project, are displayed alongside the wallpaper.
Sam was inspired to launch the project following controversy over photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing topless and a renewed campaign to ban topless models from page three of The Sun newspaper. She wanted to capture images of ordinary women.
She added: “I’m delighted with my final wallpaper and I’m now hoping to find a retailer who will help me develop the project further.”
The project has so far raised £2,000 for breast cancer charities.