Exhibition creates platform for survivors of sexual violence to regain their freedom

kehinde omotosho

May 8, 2017 12:38 PM

HERE exhibition is set to empower survivors of sexual violence to break the silence by bringing images of hidden stories of sexual violence to the spotlight.

Media perspnality Arit Okpo at the HERE photo exhibition

The HERE Exhibition is a platform for sharing the stories of survivors of sexual violence.

Stand to End Rape (STER) Initiative in collaboration with The Initiative for Equal Rights and the Revolving Art Incubator present the HERE Exhibition which is opened from Sunday, April 30 to Monday, May 14th at the Revolving Art Incubator, 2 nd Floor, Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The exhibition started with an opening event which held on Sunday, April 30 and featured conversations with guest speakers ike Titilope Sonuga, Arit Okpo, Amanda Ihemebiri and Jon Ogah

The exhibitions were created by Jumoke Sanwo of the Revolving Art Incubator who also serves as the artist for most of the exhibited photos and Yagazie Emezi, an artist whose works contributes to the exhibition.

The goal of the HERE exhibition is to empower survivors of sexual violence to break the silence and regain their freedom. The photos in this exhibition draw inspiration from real places where rape has occurred disrupting the stigmatisation people who are violated in those locations face.

It makes use of photography that blatantly hits on the facts an realities of what survivors have and are going through.

The exhibition images bring hidden stories of sexual violence to the spotlight. It’s a clear banner that says to all “Rape can happen anywhere & is never the fault of the victim” and says to the victims “Your experience is not the end of you. You can still live a full life”.

Sexual violence draws strength from the silence. The silence emboldens perpetuators and suppresses survivors.

The exhibition also serves as a fundraiser for a rehabilitation centre where women and girls will be sheltered, while we are helping them to reintegrate into the society. To this end, HERE Exhibition close event will be marked with an open auction.

kehinde omotosho