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.
A feminine point of view to oppose the predominant male gaze in art.
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.
Besides painting historical and mythological stories from a new point of view, I paint woman who are alive today and have experienced sexual violence.
This way history gets intertwined with today’s reality, giving a changing view on the women as a subject of the look.
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 we can break the circle of violence against women. We have to create awareness and take away the shame that accompanies abuse.
Why should we be ashamed?
If you are interested in participating in this project, feel free to get in touch via info@theartofrachelclimo.com