Sheela Na Gig Embroidery

Some churches in the British Isles are decorated with Sheela-na-gigs, stone carvings of old women with exaggerated genitalia. It is theorized that these were symbols for warding off evil. I am making a Sheela-na-gig embroidery. It will probably be a pillow. I'm embellishing around it with a floral motif, sort of kalocsa or Hungarian folk embroidery inspired.

Sheela Na Gig

Sheela na gigs are figurative carvings of naked women with exaggerated genitalia often found in Ireland and Great Britain on churches. They are a variety of grotesque carving. The anasyrma- the gesture of exposing oneself- was thought to have a warding effect on evil.

I am making an embroidered sheela na gig and combining it with kolacsa-inspired Hungarian floral embroidery in this piece. The hair is very snaky and Medusa-ish, but kept pretty symmetrical to have a bit of an abstract, decorative feel.