COMMON GROUND depicts the detritus covered landscapes, and the prostitutes that work along the roads, of the Campania region of Italy. This reality is readily seen and accepted within this culture, and in these images the women and the roads become metaphors for the stigma associated with the sexually abused
Each image represents the separation that exists for the abused within a society. The trees and natural elements reference the Tree of Knowledge between Good and Evil and serve as a reminder that blame is often placed on the innocent (and sometimes naive) just as Eve is held accountable for Adam’s decision.
These women are separated from normal society, set amongst the garbage and treated like trash. We only know them superficially, as voyeurs. At the heart of my motivation for this project was recognizing that these women represent all victims of sexual abuse. Fear of dishonor, pity, being unlovable, assumptions by others that abuse is like a contagious disease, makes those abused feel separate; the detritus of society. Survivors, including these women, have to live with the unfair stigma of shame, disdain, and fear that society attaches to them. In many cases they become incapable of being honest about themselves and their experiences.
I’m asking viewers to question their initial perceptions of the women before them and to consider demand and its impact on human slavery. Look at these women and instead of seeing victims, see heroes. There is an opportunity within these images for discovering self awareness, an opportunity to set aside judgments, to simply respect each other for surviving….and strive for common ground.
Each image represents the separation that exists for the abused within a society. The trees and natural elements reference the Tree of Knowledge between Good and Evil and serve as a reminder that blame is often placed on the innocent (and sometimes naive) just as Eve is held accountable for Adam’s decision.
These women are separated from normal society, set amongst the garbage and treated like trash. We only know them superficially, as voyeurs. At the heart of my motivation for this project was recognizing that these women represent all victims of sexual abuse. Fear of dishonor, pity, being unlovable, assumptions by others that abuse is like a contagious disease, makes those abused feel separate; the detritus of society. Survivors, including these women, have to live with the unfair stigma of shame, disdain, and fear that society attaches to them. In many cases they become incapable of being honest about themselves and their experiences.
I’m asking viewers to question their initial perceptions of the women before them and to consider demand and its impact on human slavery. Look at these women and instead of seeing victims, see heroes. There is an opportunity within these images for discovering self awareness, an opportunity to set aside judgments, to simply respect each other for surviving….and strive for common ground.
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No part of this site, or any of the content contained herein, may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without express permission
of the copyright holder.