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In April of 1994 I did an installation in the gallery of the Auraria Library, called "The Birth of Venus". It consisted of eight life size casts of my torso in a pose echoing the pose of Venus in Botticelli's famous painting. In the center of the gallery stood a tall pillar, draped in gauze and rope, strewn with salt crystals and dried rose petals. Atop the pillar sat a golden apple with one bite taken from it. |
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This installation spoke about reclaiming my own sexuality in the process of recovering from childhood sexual abuse. Venus' pose in Botticelli's painting has always spoken to me of a simultaneous ripe sexuality and untouched innocence, a state I hoped to reclaim for myself. From the comments I received in the guest book in the gallery, many former victims of abuse were able to relate to this hope and find some healing from viewing this installation, just as I did in the process of creating it.
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The apple is symbolic of the idea of original sin and the implication that children who are victims of sexual predators were "asking for it" or are in some way guilty of encouraging this assault on their innocence. The bite taken from the apple speaks of accepting the past and embracing it without judgement. Truly internalizing the idea that the victim has no reason for shame is the first step in finding healing from abuse. |