What is artificial, meant to cover an area lacking hair and usually kept a secret? If you’re thinking a toupee, you’re close, but not quite there. It’s a merkin. What’s a merkin? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a merkin is an artificial covering of hair for the female pubic region. Basically, it’s a pubic wig for women. While this seems like an extremely strange concept in today’s society, its original purpose actually makes quite a bit of sense. Back when lice was a common problem and women shaved to eliminate the itching, merkins were used to replace the hair. Prostitutes also used them to cover sexually transmitted diseases so they could stay in business. Not a pleasant origination, but practical nonetheless. Clearly, the need for merkins has long passed, but the emotions and concepts they represent are still very much present. Creating visuals to match what the merkin represents (sexuality, shame, self-esteem, power struggles, flirtation, etc.) are artists from around the world, brought together by curator Linda Gass. Given free merkin-making reign, the artists used just about every material possible - from X-acto blades to pine cone scales - to put their twist on this odd part of our history. No two merkins are alike, and neither are any two interpretations.