The Aphrodite Project

No wispy Venuses on the half shell here; instead, The Aphrodite Project takes as its point of departure the relationship between contemporary sex worker culture and the ancient cult of the prostitute-as-goddess: "This sacred prostitution was intrinsically tied to religion, ritual and public policy and was seen as a social service and legitimate commerce." What that somehow translates to is a "series of new media artworks", the first of which is a pair of electronically enhanced platform shoes designed to both protect and empower the women who wear them:

"The Aphrodite platform shoes will have an alarm system, which emits a piercing noise to scare off attackers. The shoes are also outfitted with a GPS receiver and an emergency button that relays both the prostitute's location and a silent alarm signal to public emergency services. Where there are problematic relations with law enforcement, the shoes will relay the signal to sex workers' rights groups."

Sure, it's nothing an old-fashioned can of mace and a pocket airhorn couldn't accomplish, but hey—this is art, remember?

· Aphrodite Project: Platforms (theaphroditeproject.tv, via sexblo.gs/WMMNA)

Previously: Sex Work Matters, Naked Ambition, Meet Elle Wakefield, Slut Suzie: Diary of a UK Prostitute, Hong Kong Escort Guides, Belle de Jour Exposed, Again