VIVIAN MANZARDO

How Heavy is Your Period (Product)?

2026

How Heavy is Your Period (Product)? was created in response to a 2023 study by researchers at Columbia and Berkeley that measured the presence of metalloids in tampons. At the time, little was known about the implications for women’s health. This gap in knowledge, particularly about how vaginal tissue might absorb these substances, became a central concern in the piece.

The sculpture replicates a commercial box of tampons made by milling, lathe-turning and forging steel bars to have a lead-like surface. The resulting sixteen steel tampons precisely replicate the dimensions of standard super tampons. To enhance the piece’s sense of familiarity, each tampon was wrapped in its original plastic casing and had a cotton string added before being placed in a folded copper box.

The piece’s weight not only references the toxicity and heaviness of the actual metalloids, but also the concerning research gap in women’s health. Calling out the gaslighting of modern societies, which claim gender equality has been reached, the piece becomes an act of protest. With its small yet heavy presence, it is a rallying cry to finally close the huge gaps that spread beyond healthcare, since male bias is a structural part of modern society.

How Heavy is Your Period (Product)? is part of Manzardo’s MFA graduation work Too Strong, Too Soft.