Gashtrays

My name is Hani. I am a freelance social designer and creator of the ceramics line, Gashtrays. Gashtrays is a sex and body positive ceramics range, celebrating the curves, folds, and flaps of real bodacious bodies. These crude pieces aim to challenge censorship and shaming of the natural body, encouraging us to appreciate the beauty and humor of the human form instead.

Armed with nothing but love for gender politics, a dirty mind, and a deep adoration for puns, in 2014 the first Gashtray was conceived - or in layman's terms, a vulva-shaped tray. Having never been trained in ceramics (or gynecological anatomy for that matter), she was quite literally rough around the edges. It was as uncomfortable to look at as it was to use, but it was that exact sensation of unease that fascinated me.

Thinking nothing much of it, I posted the abomination on Instagram for a giggle. To my surprise, I was met by an army of fellow sadistic provocateurs, keen to commission their own pieces. Honored to be part of their clan, I decided to commit to Gashtrays and began to develop the brand and its concept. Curious as to why an object like this could create such a polarising reaction from its audience, I began to explore the history of different cultural attitudes and taboos surrounding sex and the body.

Taboos teach us the do’s and don’ts of social conduct. Often based in outdated social and religious customs, they teach us what to do, like, hate, say, wear, eat and fuck. Taboos protect the infrastructure of our patriarchal society, by silencing the debate around issues deemed as ‘sensitive' or ‘TMI’ and ignoring the needs of those most often affected. As a result, there has been a serious lack of investment into the world of women’s health and pleasure, halting our progress and perpetuating gender inequality around the world.

Not only do these stigmas have a real tangible impact on our personal lives, demonstrated through movements such as ‘The Pleasure Revolution’ and #MeToo, but also on a much wider scale in society. Taboos manifest in violent unscientific rituals designed to oppress and control, such as FGM and Chhaupadi; as well as phenomena such as ‘Corrective Rape’ in Uganda, the passing of the ‘Gay Propaganda Law’ in Russia, the recent Abortion Ban in Alabama, and worldwide period poverty. Despite our supposed ‘progress’, taboos still hold an astonishing amount of power over us at all socio-economic levels, in and out of the bedroom.

What started as a joke, soon snowballed into a vocation. Today, Gashtrays is my method for confronting taboos, in an attempt to unpick issues of gender-based inequality in our world. I make a wide range of decorative and functional ceramics focusing on all types of genitalia, to raise money for relevant charities surrounding issues of gender equality, diversity, sexual health, and education. Displaying a Gashtray in your home is a symbolic act of solidarity with the people whose lives are at risk due to sexual taboos.

Some may consider my method questionable. When it comes to design activism, I'm conscious that provocation can often be damaging to a movement, as it can cause its audience to shut down and become defensive. I’m always wary that the people most likely to benefit from these conversations are the ones least likely to want to engage. However, by juxtaposing these supposedly ‘vulgar’ subjects with a humorous and fun design, I hope to provoke conversation in a way that is light-hearted and approachable. This candid tone of voice helps to disarm my audience, allowing me to spread awareness and address the bigger issues. By making vaginas more visible through art and design, it forces people to see the beauty and natural diversity in their shapes, sizes and orientations, helping to become more comfortable and less ashamed of our own. Gashtrays aims to confront taboos with open arms and a tongue firmly in cheek. Let’s talk about fanny fart etiquette. How frequently do you check your balls? Ever faked an orgasm?