Exhibition starkly addresses assaults
A NEW art installation challenges the notion sexual assault victims are to blame for their attacks because of what they chose to wear.
The What Were You Wearing? exhibition at James Cook University recreates the stories of Townsville sexual assault victims.
JCU Vice Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding said the installation incorporated mannequins dressed in outfits Townsville women, men and children wore at the time they were attacked.
“The power of this is that sometimes these people are asked what they were wearing,” Prof Harding said.
“Were you ‘ sort of asking for it?’ is the incentive to this question. This idea of what you were wearing is completely irrelevant.”
The 15 installations, curated by the Townsville Sexual Assault Support Service, are topped with a statement from the assault victim.
These statements reveal such assaults can happen anywhere and anytime.
One statement reads: “I was naked. I was around 4 or 5 years old. I was having a bath with my dad.”
Another reads: “Being a man I thought I was safe. Rape happens to men too.”
It’s a confronting exhibition showing victims were plainly dressed when they were assaulted.
Prof Harding said it was time victims weren’t blamed for what they were wearing and instead focus was placed on the offenders.
The exhibition is based on a similar installation which originated at the University of Arkansas in 2013.
The art installation coincides with Sexual Assault Awareness Month and will be on display until October 14 at the Science Place at JCU’s Douglas campus.