MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - A controversial exhibit is raising eyebrows at the University of Memphis. "Ritual Castings" features photographs of women's undergarments embroidered with slang terms that some may find offensive.
The artist, Babette Shaw, said she uses her work as a way for women to share their stories.
"The piece Castings is about both how we wear these gendered ideas and how we can cast then off," she said.
The U of M graduate student has students talking about her women's undergarment exhibit in the art museum.
"It's really explicit and controversial," said U of M student Taylor Hun. "I like it because it's feminine."
The undergarment's are embroidered with slang terms in the crotch area, many of which are considered offensive. Those words are terms Shaw hopes people will stop using.
"With the political climate the last two to three years, I decided to focus on undergarments as the accentualizing of women as uterus or vagina is currently underway, so I decided to disinvert that."
Jason Miller works at the art museum. He says even though Shaw's piece is confrontational, he's happy to have her piece in the museum.
He noted, "The fact that she is actually reiterating the very words she wants to prevent is kind of an interesting contradiction."
Shaw's "Rituals Castings" will be shown through March 16th at the University of Memphis Art Museum.
