Capturing My Healing: A Virtual Exhibit on Healing from Gender-Based Violence

Content warning: Contains stories of sexual violence.

One in three women around the world will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In this interactive exhibit, forty-six survivors reflect on one week in their journeys toward healing. Each survivor contributed a photo and a narrative of both the dark moments and the healing moments that they experienced in the span of that week. From photos of nature to portraits of loved ones to glimpses of their own bodies, survivors take back control of their narratives.

Healing after gender-based violence can have many different goals. The exhibit's themes connect to five healing goals: processing trauma, managing negative thoughts and emotions, rebuilding a sense of self, connecting with others, and finding hope and power. In their photographs and stories, the artist-survivors illuminate their responses to trauma, and how they renew their understanding of themselves.

Forgive yourself for all the things that are gonna go wrong. Because a lot of times, healing isn’t effective unless a lot has gone wrong. It’s totally normal to let things fall apart before you can pull them together and start healing...

SOURCE: Our Wave • AUTHOR: Laura Sinko • LAST UPDATED: January 1, 2025