usurp projects
Behind Closed Doors
Behind Closed Doors
Press Reviews
Asian Times - 23/3/04
A PHOTO exhibition that brought out the true plight of the suffering and degradation suffered by Asian women within their own family was lauded by media and members of the public for its theme.
Entitled ‘Behind Closed Doors’ the exposition in association with the Tongues On Fire Film Festival was created by women from the Barnardo’s Phoenix Project, in partnership with photographer Poulomi Desai. Launched at London’s Nehru Centre on Friday 5 March, the event was attended by celebrities and dignitaries alike.
Nandita Das one of Bollywood’s finest young actresses, was there at the opening to lend her support to photographic work and the charity. Speaking on the evening, she said, “It’s a sad fact that domestic violence is still such as huge problem today. Asian women still find it hard to talk about violence and abuse towards them, so hopefully this exhibition, which reveals the inner trauma and feelings of domestic violence victims, will help victims to come forward and seek help. The photographs show a stark reality but are also quite inspirational and powerful.”
Photographer Poulomi Desai said: “I am really proud of the inspirational work and commitment by all the women from The Phoenix Project to create this photographic based exhibition and campaign material. It just shows what is possible when real collaborations between artists and grassroots groups are nurtured by funders. I hope the work will be seen as widely as possible as it raises issues on domestic violence both personally and politically. I also hope I will have the opportunity to work as an artist with the group again”
Asian Voice - 13/3/04
Domestic Violence is an issue that not many people can easily talk about. Victims especially are very reluctant to come forward for fear of reprisals or further abuse. However a group of Asian women, all victims of domestic violence, recently staged a stark exhibtion reflecting the trauma of their former lives.
The group of women from the Barnardo’s Phoenix Project in Bolton, a community development initiative supporting local sian women and children through their experiences of domestic violence, first held the exhibtion entitled “ Behind Closed Doors” at the Reebok Stadium in November last year.
After much demand for it to tour around the country, the exhibition was recently staged at the Nehru Centre in London. It was officially opened by famous Bollywood actress Nandita Das.
The exhibition featured striking and hard hitting photographs and exhibits, featuring items such as a burnt wedding dress and an iron enclosed in a birdcage, which graphically highlight issues like suicide and honour killings.
The pictures are a culmination of a series of photography workshops undertaken by the women and organised by the Phoneix Project, in partnership with renowned photographic artist Poulomi Desai to develop skills and help them discuss their experience of domestic violence.
Barnado’s Phoenix Project service manager, Bhaggie Patel said: “About 25 women took part in the photography workshops over an 18 month period. The workshops were very successful and the images the women produced were so powerful, it was decided to incorporate them into an exhibition”
News of the exhibition has spead to India where organisers of an international conference on Asian women’s issues have asked some of the women involved in the photography project to speak at the event in December.
Behind Closed Doors - by Rupi Dosanjh
www.barficulture.com/reality/news.php/304/
Behind Closed Doors is a photographic exhibition of South Asian Women's experience of domestic violence in the UK created by women from Barnardo's Phoenix Project and renowned photographic artist Poulomi Desai. Approximately 25 women took part in this project to create a stark yet visually beautiful collection of images and 3D pieces.
The use of digital photography gave the victims a voice in which they could freely express their experiences and emotions.
The exhibition is set in a marquee that contains three rooms. When entering room one you're greeted with a set of plates all containing different messages on them. Walk around the glass box the plates are placed in and you're drawn in by the sepia tones of the photographs and intricate mendhi on the brides hands - then stop and look closely at her deeply slashed wrist, "Wounds tell one story, My eyes another, if only my heart could speak". All the images contain single sentences that leave you with food for thought while you soak in what you've just witnessed. This is all just in the first room.
Moving on into the second room, the first thing that strikes you is the burnt wedding dress that is held upright as if a person has been hung with a noose, the noose being the bridal scarf. Under the dress is a perfectly made bed with the words "There is life after domestic violence" as a border for an image that's been printed onto the red bed linen. Also in this room are five photographs depicting the artist's feelings of the 'honeymoon period'. By the bed is a pair of men's shoes usually worn on a wedding day.
The final room deals with the experiences of village girls. The torment, abuse and punishment suffered is all made alive with the use of eight images set in a light box and invites the viewer to walk round and read the words. With the earlier photographs in previous rooms, it was young women that were the subject of the abuse, however in this room its made very clear that this is a young girl suffering physical and mental violence. In the corner of the room is a birdcage with an iron set into it. Weaved in and out the cage are a number of photographs that have all been burnt with the iron. On the opposite side are more images exploring the aspects of violence faced by village girls.
It took 18 months to develop this exhibition and it gave an opportunity to the women who took part in it to explore issues such as oppression, honour, impact of immigration, racism, dowry and violence. It also allowed them to re-build their self-esteem, which was so cruelly crushed, and allows them to engage in social, political and economic life of the community they live in.
Behind Closed Doors by Kalpana
http://www.bambamonline.co.uk/bambamonline/front-end/review-full.jsp?bnId=21
Behind Closed Doors was a candid exhibition in collaboration with renowned photographic artist Poulomi Desai, who explores Asian Women’s experience of domestic violence.
The exhibition entitled ‘Behind Closed Doors’ is created by women from Barnardo’s Phoenix Project, in partnership with photographer Poulomi Desai. “The work starkly depicts the women’s experiences of domestic violence. The collection of photographs and exhibits is the culmination of a series of photography workshops undertaken by the Asian women to encourage development of skills and help them to overcome their experience of domestic violence”
The exhibition was showcased in London at The Nehru Centre as part of the “Tongues On Fire” Asian women’s film festival.
This was truly an eye-opening evening for myself personally and for the other guests at the event who were oblivious to the torture, abuse and harassment that exists in all walks of the Asian and other native communities around the world.
The photography was unique to Poulomi Desai and the screening on one of the case studies of an abused woman in India was such a shocker and eye opener that counsellors were on-hand in the room for anyone who found the footage too traumatising to believe.
The guests included some Asian woman in the media who could make a difference through their position. These included Bindiya Solanki former EastEnders actress and Narinder who took part in the 2nd series of the reality TV show, Big Brother.
The screening of one of the case studies was followed by an open-discussion which was held with the following respected women on the panel; Dr Kiran Bedi who chairs the Ethical Alcohol Counciling Service, Miniya Tabani Honoury General Police Officer of Delhi police, Bhaggie patel the Barnado's Pheonix Project manager and Asian female photograhic artist Poulomi Desai.
Now getting back to the project of the evening, the exhibition was a true credit to the Poulomi Desai.The art was moving and full of emotion, even almost ere due to the nature of the material being exposed.
The one piece that did stick out was the red bridal lenga (wedding dress) that was still fresh and new but had burn marks on the top and half way up the lenga (skirt). This was portraying the torture that new brides experience in the shadow of abuse, highlighting issues such as suicide and honour killings.
One of the exhibitors, Mariam (not her real name) said: “Taking part in the photography project helped me develop new skills. I learnt how to use a camera, about digital photography, as well as photographic techniques, like lighting. The photography has helped me develop my confidence and I now know that I have the ability to do things for myself. I hope that we can use the exhibition to make sure that what has happened to me doesn’t happen to anyone else. Hopefully, it will make abusive men think about what they are doing.”
A very interesting and educational event all round – well done...
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Asian women present exhibition on domestic violence - Nabanita Sircar
http://www.hindustantimes.com/2003/Dec/04/5983_482918,00430005.htm
The success of a photo exhibition by Barnados, believed to be the UK's largest children's charity, focusing on the domestic violence experienced by Asian women and children, has been so great that organisers of an international conference on Asian women's issues in India have asked some of the women involved in the photography project to speak at their event in Delhi this month.
The group of women from Barnados' Phoenix Project in Bolton, a community development initiative supporting local Asian women and children through their experiences of domestic violence, launched the exhibition last week titled 'Behind Closed Doors'.
The exhibition featured photographs and exhibits like a burnt wedding dress and an iron enclosed in a birdcage, to highlight issues such as suicide and honour killings.
The exhibition was organised in partnership with photographer Poulomi Desai, to help victims develop skills and discuss their experience of domestic violence. One such exhibitor who did not disclose her name said: "Taking part in the photography project helped me learn new skills. I learnt how to use a camera, about digital photography, as well as photographic techniques like lighting. The photography has helped me develop my confidence and I now know that I have the ability to do things for myself. I hope that we can use the exhibition to make sure that what happened to me does not happen to anyone else. Hopefully, it will make abusive men think about what they are doing."
Barnardos' Phoenix Project service manager Bhaggie Patel said: "About 25 women took part in the photography workshops over an 18-month period. The workshops were very successful and the images women produced were so powerful that it was decided to incorporate them into an exhibition."
"The exhibition has been designed to be as portable as possible, so we can use it as part of our educational and developmental work to raise awareness and challenge attitudes in order to affect change in policies and practices on domestic violence," Patel said.
For more information and to book this exhibition contact the Phoenix Project : 01204 848966.