Ivana Pia Lorusso's 'GIOVANNA': A Collective Sculpture Against Invisible Illness

Ivana Pia Lorusso created a giant hot water bottle sculpture named 'GIOVANNA' to raise awareness about adenomyosis and pelvic pain. After 17 years without a diagnosis, she transformed her personal struggle into a collective art project. She traced the profile of her hot water bottle, enlarged it into a pattern, and invited allies to sew and stuff the textile sculpture over three days. The work culminated in a public square occupation during the transfeminist global strike in Bari on March 8, 2023. Lorusso aims to break the invisibilization of menstrual pain and disability from pelvic diseases, criticizing institutional gaps in gynecological health. The project is part of ArtsLife's 'Un'opera a settimana' series, where artists discuss a single work's inspiration and process.