Over the past couple of years I’ve been taking photos and documenting Ali Waller’s /200 art show - a collection featuring castings of survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Ali’s work is powerful, raw, and healing all at the same time; from the moment you enter the exhibit space you can feel the heaviness of the air as you are submerged in the weight of the hundreds and hundreds of stories that are captured and hung on the walls.
I’ve learned a lot from this experience. My eyes been opened to how widespread sexual violence is, and I hope that in some way that I can take this influence and turn it into some redeeming energy, much like Ali is doing. Her work is not supposed to overwhelm the viewer with grief, though there is an element of that. She wants the audience to feel the pain and hurt of survivors, but also to see that there can be something beautiful made out of the brokenness. And that there is inherent strength, pride, and beauty within the people who have offered their bodies up to participate with her art.
I’m grateful to Ali and to everyone who was brave enough to be cast. You can find her work on Instagram at @alicekayw or on TikTok @alicewaller0
