Ste7o 3a Damkon: Reclaiming Menstrual Narratives Through Art
Jeyetna, the grassroots collective co-founded by Vanessa Zammar, has been carving out space for menstrual justice in Lebanon since 2021. Born amidst the economic collapse, fuel crisis, and pandemic, Jeyetna has pushed back against the silence surrounding menstruation, challenging the narrow, often sanitized depictions of this deeply human experience. Over the past four years, the organization has sparked conversations online, shifting the narrative from shame to visibility, and now, for the first time, it has taken that mission to a public gallery with the exhibit Ste7o 3a Damkon.
A Public, Political, and Personal Showcase
Menstruation is often erased from public conversation, its realities softened with pastel packaging, hidden behind euphemisms, or reduced to clinical diagrams and commercials filled with euphemisms of self-censorship. Ste7o 3a Damkon directly challenges this erasure, bringing together 12 artists—9 visual creators and 3 writers—who have poured their personal, political, and collective experiences into a series of works that refuse to sanitize the truth.
As Vanessa explains, “This exhibition has been two years in the making, delayed by wars and crises, but it feels right to finally hold this space for these voices. We wanted to create a moment where menstruation is seen, felt, and engaged with on a visceral level, away from the margins of silence.”
Exploring the Tensions
The exhibit revolves around three core tensions that capture the conflicting ways menstruation is lived and understood:
Stained: The first drop of blood is more than just a biological marker; it is a moment of political and social awakening, grounding the body within societal structures and assigning it a role. This section includes works like Between the Holy and Pure: Cycle of Life or Guilt? an analog/digital collage by R.A, Our Bodies Speak and Shift Like The Moon, a visual art and framing by Nat, and Three Manifestations of Chronic Malaise—a three-part analog, digital collage, and illustration by Presica C & Philippa D.
Shamed: This tension explores the social burden placed on those who menstruate, the silencing, and the isolation that comes with transitioning into what society deems “womanhood.” Pieces like Through Bloody Pants, a written word by Zayn, Transactions, a comic on canvas by Laith S, An Allegory of Gender, an installation by Reham Kannout, a video and collected audio titled Once I Bled for 6 Weeks Straight by Saba, and an installation accompanied by audio titled “Ouff” by akhtarmolouk -[yekiboodona-bood] confront this shame head-on.
Myth-Made: Here, the exhibit challenges the idea that bodies should simply adapt to this cycle. It asks what our world might look like if menstruation were seen as a liberating, even celebrated act. This section features digital illustrations like Autoportrait with Mother Nature Our Bodies Speak And Shift Like The Moon by Joelle Jabbour and Home, 2023 by Fatima Hassan, and written work by Jana Nakhal titled The City, A Red-Stained Bed Sheet.
A Collective Effort Across Borders
True to Jeyetna’s collaborative spirit, the exhibit was brought to life by a global team. As Vanessa notes, “Our project coordinator is in Lebanon, but the designers, social media managers, and many of our core team members are scattered across Iraq, Dubai, and beyond. This cross-border, time-zone-defying collaboration reflects the very essence of our work—centering the voices of those who menstruate, no matter where they are.”
What’s Next for Jeyetna
Looking ahead, Jeyetna plans to launch a participatory research report on menstrual experiences under the Kafala system in collaboration with Migrant Workers Action on May 28, which happens to be International Menstrual Justice Day. The report, led by community leaders from different migrant communities, aims to shed light on the unique challenges faced by menstruators living under this system, adding yet another layer to the ongoing conversation around menstrual justice.
For now, Ste7o 3a Damkon stands as a bold, unapologetic reclaiming of a narrative too often hidden from view—inviting the public to see, to reflect, and, perhaps most importantly, to listen.
Ste7o 3a Damkon has been extended and is running until May 17 at Station Beirut from 11 AM to 7PM.
Photos courtesy of Cynthia Ghoussoub
Stephani Moukhaiber
Stephani Moukhaiber is the founder and CEO of Al Rawiya, a media company amplifying voices from the Levant and its diaspora. She also leads Al Rawiya Studio, the creative and strategic arm of the company, providing branding, content, and media services to clients. In addition, she serves as the Director of Programs and Operations at the 2048 Foundation, overseeing program strategy, communications, grants management, and operational excellence. Originally, Stephani worked as an organizational development consultant specializing in workplace strategy, including roles at global tech and consulting firms.
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
- Stephani Moukhaiber
