“At her first bleed a woman meets her power,
During her bleeding years she practices it.
At menopause she becomes it”
Menses is a triptych that captures the power, cycle, and transformation of the female experience. This work reflects the three pivotal phases of a woman’s life cycle: menarche, menstruation, and menopause. Each image is a profound representation of the energy, wisdom, and strength that evolve over time.
In the first image, where the shimmer is subtle, menarche is depicted—the first bleed, the moment a woman meets her power. It marks the first encounter with the potential her body holds and the emerging energy that begins to flow within her.
The second image, with the distinct circular reflection, symbolizes the menstrual cycle—the 28-day rhythm that plays such an essential role in a woman’s life. This phase represents the years of flourishing, of practicing and learning to harness the power within the cycle of blood, and of deepening the connection to nature’s rhythm. It is a time of self-discovery, of experimenting with the energy that moves through the body.
In the final image, where the shimmer is at its brightest, menopause is represented—the stage where a woman no longer merely practices her power, but fully becomes it. The radiance symbolizes the transformation that unfolds, the deep wisdom that comes with time, and the power that does not fade but instead deepens. It is the strength that is passed down to the next generation, a force that recognizes itself in the collective experience of the women who came before.
Menses is an invitation to embrace the Woman’s Cycle, throughout her life, in all its beauty and intensity, and to honor the power embedded in every phase of Womanhood. It is an ode to the women who have carried this force through the ages and to the deep, unseen currents that reside within their bodies.
How do you experience the cycles of your own body and life? In what ways has each phase shaped your understanding of power, transformation, and self-acceptance?
SPECIFICS
Epson Museum Etching Paper 350 g
Montage dibond 2 mm
Profile R/R alu med 40×14
Full-fledged ink
Limited Availability
30 x 20 cm (3x)
451 eu
Lize Helsen
Heartcore Therapist & Beeldend Kunstenaar
Lize Helsen is a clinical sexologist at Heartcore, where she combines therapy and photography. She focuses on Erotic Intelligence as a foundation for healthy relationships and enhanced self-awareness. Her deep passion for nature and visual art finds expression in the *All Things Wild* photo series, where she uses the power of nature to reveal deeper layers of human emotions, growth, and connection.
Feel free to reach out via hello@lizehelsen.be or through the contact form below.
I’d love to hear from you!
Liefs!
Lize
