LOOK AT ME, I AM BEAUTIFUL
Winners of the Alfred Fried Photography Award 2015
Everywhere in the world, women are vulnerable from a very young age. They struggle to put an end to domestic abuse, they fight for their rights, for equality, justice and freedom of violence.
For years, the city of Goma, in the Democratic republic of the Congo, witnessed horrific war crimes and sexual violence against children, women and sometimes men were used as weapon of war.
In the recent years, more and more local initiatives and international programs have been developed to help survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence as a weapon of war to reintegrate society and take their life back in control.
In this serie of picture, you discover the life of Esther, a little girl born of rape, going through all the big milestone of her life: her birth, her first steps, her first day at school, her wedding, etc. Esther is always placed at the center of picture and is always surrounded by men who support her and protect her.
All the children you see on the pictures are born of rape…all the women have been involved in sexual abuse. They are no more victims! They are beautiful women who want the world to look at them as such!
This work has been produced in August 2014 in an effort to empower children born of rape and women survivor of sexual violence and to promote peace!
This project was born to support HOLD DRC! Do not hesitate in contacting them and see how you can help them!
PRESS
Irritation and provocation
"The reality of peace is the result of power, repression, intolerance, violence, death and destruction, the result of sententious words, hypocritically declared intentions, bilateral laws, glib agreements and declarations of peace often followed by diametrically opposed actions. Insofar Patricia Willocq's strangely irritating series comes across as staged and kitschy. But wait! Willocq deliberately banks on irritation, on provocation. All women are wearing colourful festive clothes, they are cheerful and smile. But it is precisely this brash idyll that reveals the false bottom: all the women in the pictures of the Belgium-based photographer are victims of rape. Her exaggerated staging returns self-worth and dignity to these women. The series is like an African fairy tale, in which tormentors become protectors, good wins over bad. An analogy for the good life, with a right to childhood, schools, a profession, family, self-realization. Not a melancholy but a fierce humanitarian statement that peace is mainly about tolerance, respect and appreciation."This is your Testimonial quote. It’s a great place to share client reviews about your latest projects. Add client details for extra credibility and get your site visitors excited from day one!