If Hands have a story
Our project involved collaborating with survivors of domestic abuse and sensitively expressing the results of their challenges and narratives through a medium of our choice. Through our research and collaborative efforts, we aimed to provide these survivors with a platform for their voices to be heard. The primary objective of this project is to challenge and eradicate societal prejudices and stereotypes by showcasing a range of experiences that humanize and shed light on the hardships faced by these women. With the aim of sparking meaningful conversations about fashion's culture of inclusion and exclusion, diversity, and representation, this design is rooted in social consciousness.
Ideation
Initially, the team recognized the need to incorporate storytelling elements into the project. They deliberated on various possibilities but found themselves particularly drawn to the idea of utilising body language cues. Another idea revolved around the sculpting of a female body entwined with ropes that were gradually unravelling. This sculpture aimed to emphasise the theme of liberation and self-emancipation, aligning with the team's focus on empowerment and healing.
Understanding that human body language encompasses a wide range of expressions, including eye movements, leg tapping when nervous, and nail biting, they focused their attention on hand gestures. Recognising the potential for hand gestures to convey a wealth of information about a person's emotions and the situations they encounter, the team decided to delve deeper into the realm of body language, specifically honing in on the hand gestures of domestic abuse survivors.
Their approach involved observing the women in the hub, paying close attention to how their hands moved while they shared their stories of struggle. Additionally, during their research, they unearthed the symbolic significance of the colour purple in relation to domestic violence, further emphasising the project's intent to harness the power of storytelling through visual elements.
In their creative process, the team recognized the importance of incorporating the colour purple into the final product. Their objective was to ensure that every element conveyed the narrative of a survivor's struggle. They devised a symbolic approach wherein the colour purple would be prominently featured on the fragmented pieces of the second pair of hands, signifying the initial stages of a victim's journey toward resilience in the face of adversity.
Purple is a powerful symbol in domestic violence awareness campaigns. While it's commonly linked to royalty and femininity, its association with this cause goes deeper. In the early 1900s, purple was adopted by the women's suffrage movement, symbolising "purity, hope, and loyalty." This colour choice gained significance during the Equal Rights Amendment march in 1978, where advocates marched in purple, gold, and white. Purple has since become synonymous with the fight against domestic violence, representing courage, peace, and survival. It also serves as a way to honour victims and survivors of this issue.
Among the initial ideas, one concept involved the observation of survivors' hand gestures and the creation of ceramic moulds based on these gestures. Subsequently, these moulds would be deliberately broken and repaired using the Japanese kintsugi technique, symbolising the resilience and strength of women in overcoming their struggles. Additionally, they envisioned inviting the survivors to compose messages to their former selves, which would be etched onto the ceramic pieces.
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with precious metals like gold, creating a unique and beautiful design. Beyond restoration, it adds an indescribable "incomplete beauty." Its original purpose is to repair imperfections with near-perfect methods.
Like pottery, people face challenges and setbacks in life. Kintsugi embraces imperfections, using precious materials and resilience. It doesn't hide flaws but gracefully accepts them, nurturing a longing for beauty in an ever-changing world, turning imperfection into beauty.
Kintsugi teaches that where you've been broken can make you stronger and more beautiful. Similarly, abused women can emerge from their experiences stronger and more powerful, like a restored piece of kintsugi pottery.
With careful consideration and the information gathered, the decision was made to narrate the story of abuse. This involved creating three pairs of hands to depict ABUSE, the realisation of the need for FREEDOM, and the HEALING process. The perspective of women, informed by the stories from Voices of Hope, guided this creative process.
The FIRST PAIR OF HANDS consists of two hands: one representing the abuser with a tight grip on the victim's hands, the victim wearing a wedding ring. This symbolises marital domestic violence, highlighting the dominance and bondage within the relationship.
Moving on from the first pair, the SECOND PAIR OF HANDS illustrates a woman's awakening to the necessity of freedom and the toxicity of her relationship. In this representation, there exists a physical distance between the abuser's hand and the victim's hand, symbolising the newfound freedom. However, the female hand is fragmented, signifying both the broken spirit and physical injuries endured. Some of these fractured pieces are adorned in purple, denoting resilience, while others are mended using the kintsugi technique, symbolising the slow process of healing. Additionally, the presence of the wedding ring on the table signifies the termination of the marriage.
The THIRD PAIR OF HANDS predominantly displays purple, representing the victim's gradual empowerment as they gather the strength to confront injustice. Inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi, which celebrates the beauty of repairing what's broken, this concept is reflected in mending the fractured hand-pieces, symbolising the process of healing and transformation. This representation signifies how survivors proudly embrace their scars, conveying the message of being "BROKEN BUT BEAUTIFUL." It also incorporates messages from the women, sharing their wisdom for their younger selves.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GESTURES
Based on our research, it becomes evident that the journey from domestic violence against women to eventual liberation follows the outlined stages, with each gesture symbolising a crucial aspect of this progression.
1. Submission and Abduction in the Name of Love: The palm-up gesture serves as a submissive and non-threatening symbol. Our design features a woman's upturned palm, firmly held by the abuser, depicting the initial forceful submission imposed upon the woman.
2. Breaking Free Amidst Confinement and Torture: Research indicates that authority is conveyed when the palm faces downward. This is often seen as a demand or command, signifying a woman's resolute determination to reject domestic violence. It represents the courageous act of breaking free from prolonged confinement and abuse within the relationship.
3. Rebuilding and Self-Love: The handshake, a gesture rooted in our evolutionary history, was originally a sign of peaceful intent, showcasing empty hands to prove the absence of weapons. Over time, this gesture has evolved into various forms symbolising goodwill among individuals. In our interpretation, the final gesture portrays women supporting each other, embodying the idea of mutual aid and empowerment as survivors rebuild and learn to love themselves again.
