Margaret Kalms
Margaret Kalms’ major art photography project ‘Life with
Endometriosis’ depicts the impacts of living with endometriosis.
Margaret’s images make endometriosis visible.
Endometriosis can have serious health impacts on women’s
lives, but it is not well known. Most symptoms are
hidden and there is still reluctance to take women’s menstrual
pain and symptoms seriously. It can be difficult
communicating to family, friends and work collegues. Art
images make it much easier to discuss intimate problems.
Margaret’s photos are artistic and allegorical, but also
shocking and confronting; they represent the personal
truth and experiences of people living with endometriosis,
as they are the only people who truly know what
endometriosis feels like.
For several years, Margaret photographed 17 women with
endometriosis. She chose not to use paid commercial
models because she wanted the authenticity of the lived
human experience.
The participants in ‘Life with Endometriosis’ felt heard
and validated because Margaret spent time listening to
their concerns. She collaborated on which ideas or symptoms
would be imaged and the woman chose her pose
to reflect how she felt during an endometriosis episode.
Each image is inspired by what the women said to Margaret
and is accompanied by a quote from her.
Although ‘Life with Endometriosis’ is not intended to be
art therapy, many participants felt that having their experiences
and feelings imaged was healing for them.
“Healing takes place when people re-visit life experiences
and play them out in new ways”2
Margaret has published a collection of her photos in an
A5 book. Sufferers can use the book to communicate and
to educate people around them. There are many different
ways that endometriosis impacts on life. Margaret has included
17 women in her book, each showing a different
symptom or life experience.