A thought-provoking exhibition at the Nun's Chapel on St Peter's Campus began Women’s Week at Rhodes University.
The annual 'My Body My Choice' exhibition offered nude photographs of women – some brandishing placards or slogans painted on their bodies – that sent out messages protesting against anti-gender violence, as well as hope to their viewers.
A thought-provoking exhibition at the Nun's Chapel on St Peter's Campus began Women’s Week at Rhodes University.
The annual 'My Body My Choice' exhibition offered nude photographs of women – some brandishing placards or slogans painted on their bodies – that sent out messages protesting against anti-gender violence, as well as hope to their viewers.
On Monday evening around 100 keen guests gathered at the chapel for the exhibition's official opening.
Guests had to wait because in a last-minute rehearsal, a dancer who was going to perform in the opening ceremony hurt her neck and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance.
Eventually the ceremony could begin, and was ignited by a dance performance by Negative EntertAinMent, a women’s dance company run by final year Masters drama student Nadine Joseph.
The performance stunned the audience and told stories illustrating gender bias, or how sexual violence leaves many women concealed, overpowered and ashamed.
Larissa Klazinga, student services officer and organiser of the Women’s Week activities, said the overall message of the exhibition was about women “reclaiming their physical autonomy."
According to Klazinga, the aim of My Body My Choice was to “counter rape myths and stereotypes of female nudity”, and was designed to encourage active participation in the debate on women’s rights, rather than merely demanding a passive gaze from the audience.
