60 x 24 cm – £ 1,200
This artwork reveals the conditions that women are facing in the war taking place in Syria and the crimes of rape that are continuously being committed against them. It also reveals the various physical and sexual assaults and tortures which they have been subjected to since the start of the war. These women are aware of their unfortunate fate, and that of their daughters, sisters and children.
This awareness in times of hopelessness, where there is no escape, has left the women with one of two choices. Either she ends her life, where suicide looks like the only way to escape this nightmare, trying to forget her children, husband and family because if she does think of them, she might think of their lives with her. Or she waits her turn and gives in to the understanding that her body is no longer hers. She sits on the broken chair, waiting for strange and cruel men to come in and rape her, one after the other with no mercy on her ill and weak body.
The theme of conflict between the main opposing sides, while the public suffers, is reiterated here by using the colours of their flags, the two sides will keep on fighting,
and ignore the souls being shattered underneath their tyrant rule.
The shadow is intended to replicate the artwork, thereby indicating the large number of these incidents, as it does not happen only to one person or family, it is, in fact, widespread amongst the innocent people, who only seek a fair life.
All art pieces are made from reclaimed wood signifying rebirth and the possibility for hope in the future. The wood used in this piece was retrieved from the surviving parts of a wardrobe from a shelled home in rural Damascus.