Adriana Miglane

My research project explores the hidden realities of women’s healthcare, examining the overlooked dismissal of physical distress, difficulties achieving a diagnosis and the severe consequences gendered bias serves within the medical system. A Tough Pill to Swallow emerges from a place of personal frustration and concern, sparked by the experiences and narratives of women close to me who were denied adequate care.

The ceramic installation consists of familiar forms of painkillers, capsules and contraceptive pills, scaled through design, 3D printing and lathe work. Several of these slip-casted pills feature engraved narratives of women’s stories, accompanied by red imagery transferred through the process of lithography and permanently sealed with transparent glaze. These pills communicate lived experiences of pain, resilience and the urgent need for recognition.

The stories are unsettling, highlighting the critical need for awareness and change within women's healthcare. The audience is invited to contemplate and connect with the commentary in their own way.

Which of these pills tells your story?