Tara Moore

Put a Pin in It explores the experience of invisible illness in women and the silent endurance of pain. A pin cushion is designed to absorb sharp pins repeatedly without reaction, much like how many women are expected to endure physical and emotional suffering quietly.

The softness of the fabric contrasts with the harshness of the pins, symbolising the vulnerability of the female body in the face of repeated medical procedures, diagnoses, and dismissed pain. Each pin represents an experience of discomfort, trauma, or neglect that accumulates over time.

Invisible illnesses are often hidden beneath the surface, making them difficult for others to recognise or understand. Similarly, the pin cushion conceals the damage within it while continuing to serve a purpose. Through this work, I wanted to explore themes of silence, and the ways women’s pain is frequently normalised or ignored within society and medical spaces.