Silent Tears is a multi-media project by internationally renowned Social Documentarian Belinda Mason Knierim OAM, and artists with disability, Dieter Knierim, Margherita Coppolino and Dr Denise Beckwith.
Stories of disability, violence
and the resilience of women survivors globally
The power of this exhibition lies within the stories shared by the sixty-two participants who are women with a disability who have been subjected to violence and women who have acquired their disability caused by violence. Their lives have been forever changed by the violence that they have endured and their road from victim to survivor can be challenging and isolating. In contributing to the Silent Tears project, all the women have intimately shared their stories of violence, in an unquestioning way, and in doing so, have made the personal political.
Silent tears fall at the moment when we feel the most alone, vulnerable and lost. They signal a turning point to look for hope, unity and strength. The women in Silent Tears courageously share different experiences of violence to provide a deeply moving testament to its impact on their lives, and the lives of those around them. Domestic and cultural violence, forced sterilization, female genital mutilation, psychological trauma, neglect, no access to justice, emergency services, health care or education, human trafficking, workplace violence, cyber bullying, child pornography, child sexual abuse, physical and sexual abuse within institutions or by family members. A list of horror, perpetrators of which are both men and, also women.
"Without stories there is silence. Without our stories told, we are voiceless. Without our stories heard, we are invisible. It is even harder when the stories are hard to hear and impossible to imagine."
"The power of this exhibition, lies in the hands of those who participate in it, women with disabilities who have been subjected to violence and women who have acquired their disability caused of violence."
"When we talk about gender based violence, the experience of women with disability, the majority of the time, is left out of the conversation."
The Silent Tears project participants are from G-20, OECD and developing nations. These remarkable women represent five continents and 20 countries including: Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Korea, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Guatemala, Mexico, Ecuador, USA, Canada, West Africa, Mali, South Africa, Germany, Italy, Ireland, England and the Netherlands.
Silent Tears was originally funded by The Australia Council for the Arts, curated by Kon Gouriotis OAM, and launched at the 2015 Ballarat International Foto Festival by Sue Salthouse of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Panel to Reduce Violence Against Women. The exhibition grew from the original 10 women to 20 Australian women and an additional 28 women internationally with the support of CAB International. In March 2016, Silent Tears co-hosted a parallel event with the Australian Government, Australian Human Rights Commission and CBM International as part of the 60th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York, USA. In April 2016, artists Belinda and Denise presented with CBM at the UN in Geneva to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In April 2016, the exhibition was displayed at the Sydney University Law Library and was accompanied by a Sydney Ideas discussion panel. In October 2016, Silent Tears featured at the Berlin Photography Biennale. From November 2016 – January 2017, the exhibition was shown at MAMA, Australia. In July 2017, a selection of works was shown during the Venice Biennale. In 2018, the work was shown in New York across three galleries, and in conjunction with the UN Commission on the Status of Women, Silent Tears co-hosted a side event with the UN Women National Committee Australia.
Globally, disabled women and girls experience multiple discriminations impacting on their daily lives. They are more likely to be victims and survivors of violence. Violence against women and girls with disability is under-reported and under-recognised. There’s even less recognition that violence causes disability. Including all women with disabilities in a big, important and global conversation within gender-based violence is essential to ensure no woman is left behind. For each woman in the project, globally there are many thousands whose stories and whose lives are invisible. There are women who have shared the same experiences and yet are culturally different, providing recognition that they are not isolated in their experiences. Some women have chosen to share their story anonymously; others revealed their identity.
We welcome requests to exhibit Silent Tears both nationally and internationally. Venues need to consider freight and travel costs for artists and participants. For both national and international venues, we suggest including a forum, workshop and/or artist talk to allow audiences to respond to the content of the exhibition. Please contact us if you would like to host the exhibition.
LOGISTICS
There are several components to the exhibition, we are happy to collaborate with curators and venues to present a selection of the works, to ensure the integrity and intent of the project is aligned.
• 50 laser prints Duro Clear 100 x 67cm images on clear perspex – suspended from the gallery ceiling (Artist: Belinda Mason)
• 50 framed 50 x 61cm black and white documentary images – using standard gallery D ring hanging system (Artists: Margherita Coppolino and Denise Beckwith)
• a video installation with 20 ipads, can be presented as a single loop projection or monitor (Artist: Dieter Knierim)
• soundscape
• online app for people with sensory, cognitive and learning impairments
• artwork hard and soft copy of text panels for each artwork
• catalog, including essays by artists, participants and key figures
• media kit, including press release, 6 images, fact sheet, artist bios and project outline
• graphic design templates for invitations and posters
• education kit or forum discussion outline
ARTISTIC VISION
Film and photography have a well-regarded role in bringing the plight of silent victims into focus, providing a powerful opportunity for understanding and action. Bearing witness to the realities of lives of these women should be uncomfortable and challenging for audiences. When women with disability find the courage to speak about the violence that they have experienced, they often find themselves forgotten or simply left out of the conversation. Silent Tears gives them the opportunity to tell you exactly how they feel.
The participants of Silent Tears have collaborated as protagonists with the three artists, creating works based on the stories of women with disability whose experiences include: psychological, physical, emotional, economic, and cultural violence. They have shared their stories that include: domestic violence, forced sterilisation, psychological trauma, female genital mutilation, and neglect and sexual abuse within institutions or by family members. Audiences can expect to experience a deeper understanding of the diversity of violence, discrimination and survival.
Exposure to violence can normalise the situation for the perpetrator, victim and the audience. Silent Tears intentionally maintains a constant pressure through its curatorial approach. Each woman was photographed by each of the three artists.
The viewer first sees Denise’s documentary black and white photographs, which illustrate the everyday lives of the women. They are portrayed at home, with family or friends, in scenes that are familiar to us all. Beside each image, each story can be read, and as the viewer does so, they can hear the eerie sound of water and chimes.
The viewer moves into the second part of the exhibition, where artist, Belinda has focused on the moment when silent tears fall. These are internal portraits rather than external ones. The photographs are produced as large suspended images, which freeze the moment capturing the viewer within it. The transparent materials, on which the images were printed, reflect the invisible yet visible nature of violence against women. As the viewer walks around the artworks, they can hear each woman speak the words read earlier.
In the multi-screen video installation by artist Dieter, the still portraits come alive, and the viewer can see and hear all women move and speak at once along with the sounds of the water and chimes. This is significant, as, if women were to stay silent, they would remain voiceless. Without their stories heard, they are invisible. For those who listen, it is also hard, especially when the stories are difficult to hear and often impossible to imagine.
Silent Tears has touched many raw nerves, and support has been made available for the viewers, participants and artists. The images that we have created, are shown in the community where the participants live, shining a torch into the dark corners that many would prefer no light was shed. The images do not portray violence, but they don’t need to, instead they captivate you with a familiar intimacy before revealing a hidden truth.
