Creative metaphors for healing

AFTER a series of creative workshops, a group of sexual abuse survivors are now showing their artwork in Art Space for the Thinking About Monuments, Maquettes and Metaphors exhibition.

Guided by artist Eliza-Jane Gilchrist, the collection of survivors created cardboard sculpture pieces in response to thoughts surrounding what the memorial for sexual abuse survivors may look like.

“There were six sessions, but people could take their work away and work on it because they were just working with cardboard which is not a scary material,” Gilchrist said.

“We went in through the idea of metaphor, we used it as a way of putting ideas and images together and making meaning in that way.

“I usually work with cardboard in my practice because it’s a lovely thing to work with and is abundant and it speaks to what we really value as a society and it speaks to the idea that anything can be valuable if you it and spend time and attention and give it value.”

Over the course of the workshops, Gilchrist said the participants went from creating collages from their metaphors to thinking up and producing larger scale cardboard art works.

“It was emotionally intense and people found that at times they needed to have a break from it, it was a big ask in some cases and a brave undertaking,” she said.

“I wanted to make sure everyone felt okay about what they were saying so I tried to make a safe environment for them to say what they wanted to say and make what they wanted to make.

“All of the lead artists had some training before hand with Continuous Voices about trauma informed practice so we could understand some of the issues and how to make a safe space but the group really gelled and ended up being really supportive towards one another.”

One of Gilchrist’s workshop participants Trevor Coad said while he’s never worked with cardboard in that way before, it was interesting to channel his thoughts into a new medium.

“I included little quotes of hope because this is the hope I wanted to bring, can we be life changers for people,” he said.

“There’s this interactive piece of mine called Get Over It, what I wanted to show is that you can’t just brush things off so easily, the metaphor is that although you can’t get over something, there’s ways for a psychologist to help and using a technique called EMDR to process those memories.

“It’s a metaphor for appropriate professional help, although it’s not always that easy, there’s ways out there to help people.”

Fellow participant Livio Turkovic said he also and found the process challenging but cathartic.

“To come in and talk about your story was a hard thing to do and to try and put your own thoughts, words and feelings into something literal, was a huge effort,” he said.

“But it’s a way to open up to increase a bit of understanding and help other people understand what’s going on.”

The exhibition is open Thursday to Sunday until 30 April and for more information on the project, visit creativeballarat.com.au/thinking-about-memorials.

For assistance with issues of sexual assault or abuse, contact Ballarat CASA on 03 5320 3933 or After Hours Crisis Care on 1800 806 292.