Karolina Maria Dudek
Fluids, 2023–ongoing

​

My project explores the unity among women, using blood and menstruation as powerful symbols of connection and shared experience. It investigates the relationship between the body, its fluids, and the connections they create—both within the private space of the home and in wider societal contexts. Through visual stories, I seek to challenge common perceptions of the body and its functions, creating room for reflection and discussion about what links us on a basic, human level.

Within the private setting of the home, this exploration takes shape as a series of images that highlight the raw and animalistic aspects of the body and its fluids. The home—often seen as a place of routine and normalcy—becomes a space where these primal, instinctive parts of human existence are acknowledged and questioned. Each image reflects cycles of life and routines related to bodily experiences, encouraging viewers to confront taboos and accept these shared realities.

Beyond the domestic setting, the project looks at societal boundaries, addressing how social norms shape our perceptions. The imagery explores areas where bodily expressions and fluids are often hidden, sanitised , or misunderstood. It invites viewers to reconsider the stigma around natural processes and to see the body in its unfiltered, energetic state.

This work reflects our shared humanity—a reminder to see beauty and truth in what is often ignored or rejected. At its core, the project investigates the primal, instinctive links between the body and its fluids. These images reveal what fluids like blood symbolise : life, loss, strength, and unity. Designed to provoke a visceral response, they encourage viewers to see the body as both a vessel and a story of physical existence.

The aim is to open new ways of thinking about the body and bodily fluids. By emphasising  the universal and instinctive aspects of physicality, the project seeks to start conversations about the connections that bind us, allowing viewers to interpret the symbols and processes in their own way.