A powerful art exhibition aimed at shedding light on the lasting effects of domestic abuse is set to open at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge.
The exhibition, Breaking the Silence: Art Against Abuse, is being organized in collaboration with domestic abuse survivor Sharon Livermore MBE, of Domestic Abuse Education, alongside five trained student ambassadors.
The event will take place on Wednesday, 2 October, in room LAB 027 on the university’s East Road campus.
The exhibit, which includes a range of emotional and thought-provoking pieces such as poetry, prints, paintings, and digital artwork, seeks to emphasize the “deep impact” domestic violence has on victims’ lives.
Livermore, a passionate advocate for domestic abuse awareness, said the exhibition will feature “trigger warnings” to ensure that the difficult topic is approached with care, but she believes it is a subject that society can no longer afford to “hide away from.”
Among the featured artists is Holly Ringrose, whose unfinished portraits of women lost to gender-based violence are particularly moving.
Ringrose paints for a minute for each year the women lived, bringing their stories to life through her art. One such piece includes a striking black and white digital image of Ellie Gould, a 17-year-old girl tragically murdered by her ex-boyfriend in Wiltshire in 2019.
The portrait was completed in just 17 minutes, symbolizing Ellie’s short life.
Livermore emphasized the exhibition’s message: “It showcases the deep impact domestic abuse has on people’s lives and that we need to do something about it.”
She hopes the event will spark crucial conversations about the urgent need for action and change.
To provide support for those affected by the exhibition’s subject matter, counsellors, wellbeing teams, and representatives from organizations like Women’s Aid, Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre, and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust will be available. The exhibition will also feature expert input from the police and the Kite Trust, which supports LGBTQ+ youth.
“There’s a fine line between educating people, raising awareness and shocking, but we need the balance,” Livermore noted.
As a domestic abuse survivor herself, she believes that sugar-coating the issue only makes it harder to enact real change.
“The longer we sugar coat it, the harder it will be to raise awareness and make a positive change.”
Suzanne Drieu, head of counselling and wellbeing at ARU, added that the university is keen to make sure students, especially those who have recently moved away from home, are aware of the support available.
Also read: Bea Baranowska’s Art Takes Flight At The Natural History Museum’s “Birds
