A powerful new art and awareness project, Art Against Violence, brings the often-hidden realities of violence against women into public view through deeply personal and confronting works of art. The exhibition begins on Thursday at Hof van Rijhove in Ghent.
Initiated by visual artist Veerle Verbeke and supported by fellow artists and organisations, the project runs until the end of 2027 and aims to break taboos, provoke dialogue and provide support.
“Powerlessness was the overwhelming feeling”
At the heart of the exhibition are Verbeke’s installations and a moving series of 13 portraits of victims of sexual violence. “Imagining an emotion in the work starts from my emotional world, my experiences,” she says. “By portraying an unspeakable theme, viewers can be touched in their own inner world.”
The exhibition also features work by Dutch photographer Henriëtte Van Gasteren, who used her art as an outlet after her daughter was raped in 2017. Her series Silent Scream channels grief and rage into a confronting tribute to victims. “Powerlessness was the overwhelming feeling,” she says. Her portraits include not only victims, but also aid workers, magistrates, and correctional officers, people entangled in the system of response.
The project builds on the earlier FEMALE exhibitions, which attracted thousands of visitors in Sint-Denijs-Westrem and Schellebelle. One of the most powerful pieces was Verbeke’s wedding dress draped in chains, a symbol that struck a chord. “It triggered their own experiences,” she recalls. “As if stories that could never be told before were now allowed to come out.”
Violence against women in Belgium
Violence against women remains a critical issue in Belgium. According to the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men, 1 in 5 women in Belgium experiences sexual violence in her lifetime. In 2023 alone, 3,547 rapes were officially reported, a figure believed to represent just a fraction of actual cases. Psychological abuse, stalking and coercive behaviour also remain widespread, both offline and online.
Art Against Violence doesn’t just create space for victims’ voices, it also offers resources. An information stand will be available at each venue, offering guidance on legal rights and access to help when faced with transgressive behaviour.
