Melissa Beowulf
Master of Art
Undefeated
After I was diagnosed with cancer in my left breast in 2011, I had a mastectomy, after which my family and I were discussing the idea of the Amazons and how they removed one breast so it wouldn't interfere with their archery. I found this pragmatism inspirational. I didn’t feel that I needed to reconstruct my breast to reassert my self identity, although I recognise and respect that many feel this need. I wanted to give an alternative to the need for acceptance that drives the desire for normalisation of our physical appearance.