Held was as a part of “Indumba Yolwazi: a place for sacred knowledge”, a group exhibition organised by the Creative Change Laboratory at the Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education in 2019.
Held is a response to the increasingly apparent sexual and gender-based violence that is plaguing our global community. By casting the hands of sexual assault survivors, the artist invites people to join hands with others who have gone through similar traumatic experiences. The hands have been customized by the person from whom the cast has been taken to express the value and importance of the individual’s contribution within the shared effort to unite in a display against sexual violence.
Held is intended to give people the agency and confidence to address their personal traumas in ways that allow them to better understand their trauma and the effect it has had on their lives.
I want people to know that they are not alone in their struggles and that these indescribable feelings they may not be able to talk about or control are a part of a shared human experience, which we will learn to overcome.
The casting of a hand means solidifying part of a journey, a moment in life where a step has been taken towards healing.
IT’S MY BODY NOT YOURS is a zine made at The Counselling Hub – Woodstock, It’s a collection of information, stories and visuals made by group of sexual assault survivors. The zine making sessions were inspired by the need for community when it comes to healing from traumatic events, the use of art in healing is an important method to help people process trauma. A counsellor was present during the workshop to provide support to the participants while the artmaking was taking place.