Embroidered with pain: an art project launched in support of people who survived sexual violence during the war in Ukraine
On January 26, the opening of the exhibition "Embroidered with pain" took place at the "Zoloti Vorota" metro station in Kyiv. Stories from collective images of people who survived sexual violence during the war are embroidered on traditional Ukrainian towels and translated into a non-traumatic and accessible language of ornament.
The art initiative "Embroidered with pain" was developed within the framework of the project "Women Leading Response and Recovery in Ukraine", which is implemented by Pact Ukraine in partnership with agency "One Health" under support of the Government of Great Britain.
"The Russians choose the most brutal methods of terror against civilians during the war, and unfortunately, sexual violence is one of them. We want every woman or man who has gone through this painful experience to find the strength to move on. Our projects help women to overcome gender prejudices and stereotypes, to become a support for themselves and an example for others", said Olesia Galchynska, program director of Pact gender projects.
Each story embroidered on the towel is fictional, but based on the experience of real people who were sexually assaulted by the Russian military and are now on the road to recovery. These stories are available on the project website vyshyti-bolem.in.ua.
"Traditional embroidered towels have always had a sacred meaning for Ukrainians. Every stitch, cross, symbol has a message. They are a part of our code, a part of the people's memory, where someday this war will appear. Talking about sexual violence during the war is difficult and painful. However, it is very important to support those who are not ready to talk about their experience. We want to help them talk, ask for help and share their pain in this way", said Natalya Olbert-Sinko, managing partner of the One Health agency.
As of January 2023, the Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine recorded 155 cases of sexual violence committed by the Russian military against Ukrainians. According to the Ukrainian Helsinki Union, it might be 100 times more. The exact number is not known because the victims are silent. It is difficult for people to find the strength to talk about such a traumatic experience.
"It's definitely hard for survivors of sexual violence to talk about it. But it is even more difficult to stay with such memories alone. One of the project goals is to show those who experienced sexual violence that they are not alone – there are many people who are ready to give a hand of support and walk the path of healing together. There is no shame in asking for help", said Inna Mykhalyova, a psychologist of the SafeWomenHub platform.
The project "Embroidered with pain" is an initiative of the "Dali Ye" information platform, which was created by the Ukrainian-Swiss project "Mental health for Ukraine" with the aim of helping people who survived sexual violence during the war to find all the necessary information in one place about medical, psychological and legal help.
The traditional Ukrainian towel exhibition of the "Embroidered with pain" project will be held at the "Zoloti Vorota" metro station in Kyiv from January 26 to February 20, 2023.
You can share your support with those who survived sexual violence during the war on the project website, as well as on Instagram, using a special mask.
