Opening Night: The Survivor Art Installation: What Were You Wearing?

The "Survivor Art Installation: What Were You Wearing?" exhibition will launch in Boorloo/Perth on Tuesday, 6 August, offering a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of victim-blaming and sexual violence.

Organised by the UWA Women's Guild in collaboration with Michelle Wieberneit from UWA's Law School and supported by UWA Grand Challenges, Student Life, and the School of Design, this exhibition seeks to confront and dispel societal misconceptions about sexual assault and rape. It critically addresses the harmful question, "What were you wearing?"—a question often used to unjustly blame victims.

Hosted at the Cullity Gallery in the School of Design at The University of Western Australia, the exhibition features recreated outfits worn by sexual assault and rape survivors at the time of their assaults. These outfits symbolise the sexual assault and rape survivors worldwide, showcasing a wide range of ages, genders, and cultures. The exhibit powerfully illustrates that what survivors were wearing is irrelevant and aims to highlight the widespread nature of sexual violence.

Kati Kraszlan, the WA Commissioner for Victims of Crime, will deliver the opening note. The UWA Safe and Respectful Communities Team will be in attendance on the evening to answer questions about support services available at UWA and externally.

Light refreshments will be served.

Please note: this exhibition includes visual imagery and narratives related to sexual assault and violence, which may be triggering or distressing for some viewers.

Need someone to talk to?

Please prioritise your health and well-being. We recognise this topic can be triggering and have compiled a list of resources available in WA.

If you are a student at the University of Western Australia, here is a list of support services that you can access.