In this series, I am allegorically representing the human body as a sacred vessel containing our experiences, emotions, and spirit. Our bodies house our experiences that shape and transform who and how we are. When we endure trauma, it affects the state of our home. In this way, healing becomes a process that must start within us.
I photographed people who had experienced sexual assault and asked them to compose statements expressing their individual journeys. By uniting the photographs with their statements, the book functions as a visual diary that recognizes the magnitude of these experiences, while acknowledging the various stages of healing that follow.
The collection of images are figurative portraits that display both vulnerability and tenacity, testifying to the spiritual triumph of survivors. The photographs examine the exquisite human form by elegantly accentuating its intricacies. The images symbolize the vitality, hope, and fortitude within each survivor.
At the heart, the photographs express the process of reclaiming our dignity and value when they have been damaged by tribulation. This is the birthplace of healing and recovery. Our defining moment then becomes not the experience, but the way we use it to shape the trajectory of our lives. The purpose of this project is to inspire hope that through restoration, the weight of traumatic events can be lifted. I am encouraging those who are broken to know they do not have to live in that place. There is a peace that transcends the pain.
