Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable”
Cesar A. Cruz
Repainting History is about painting famous scenes which have been depicted in arts throughout history from a new point of view.
Twist the knife again (2025) is a response to the thousands of years women were only painted by men, as object of the look. Every sexualizing stare twists the knife again. It does not stop here: the objectification has led and still leads to sexual assault, rape and abuse.
One in eight girls worldwide has experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18 (UNICEF Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, October 2024). Rape is often about dominance and power. Dominance can be expressed through dehumanization – rape – an assault cutting through the soul.
Leda and the Swan, somehow always depicted as a joyful moment, is a rape. So this is a painting depicting a rape, the first ‘true’ Leda and the Swan in figurative art. Notice how both the frame and the painting are cut in half, the way a human soul is destructed through acts of violence.
This project shines a light on something that often goes unnoticed and doesn’t get talked about. One in ten students get raped in the few years they spend studying and almost 20% of all women get raped at least once during their lifetime (Amnesty International, 2021).
Only by being honest and open about what is happening can the circle of violence be broken.
If you are interested in participating in this project, feel free to get in touch via info@theartofrachelclimo.com