Cause and Effect

These figures, as a piece, deal with the rituals performed on the body of victims of abuse by the victims themselves. It is an exploration of cause and effect, of control and the shifting of power and blame, the exorcism of guilt and the expression of personal pain felt by women, specifically those physically abused at a young age, who are entering into puberty and developing sexuality despite having residual feelings of powerlessness and detachment from their bodies. The piece consists of two figures, one documents the narrative of trauma and the other shows the effect. Cause represents the memories of physical and emotional sensations felt by abused children. In particular the crossing of boundaries, the loss of corporeal borderlines and connotations of bedding. Effect is a portrait of the aftermath of abuse, in particular the ritualistic use of self-harm by survivors. The abdomen and thighs are covered with small red embroidered scars. There are three colours to represent different stages of injury and healing. Some scars are built up and some smooth. This is not a condemnation of self harm, but a consideration of its instinctive and expressive purpose for regaining control over one's body, and the metaphorical meaning behind building up scar tissue on skin which has been touched without permission.