Featured work
Shattered But Empowered · Violence Against Women & Girls
This piece symbolizes the journey of women rising above violence and reclaiming their power. The silhouette represents survivors breaking free from chains of abuse and shattered pain. From her rises a phoenix, embodying resilience, transformation, and the strength to begin again; the indomitable spirit.
The dark tones at the bottom reflect struggle, while the golden light above signifies healing, hope, and empowerment. The blooming rose at her feet is a reminder that beauty and life can grow even from brokenness, through endurance, courage, and most importantly, God.
Visual byGay-Ann Burke
Personal reflection
Shattered but empowered was born from a deeply personal journey of surviving violence and finding the courage to reclaim my life. For years, I experienced the emotional, psychological and physical impact of an abusive relationship, and eventually reached a point where I understood that remaining in that environment was costing me too much. Leaving required courage, but leaving was only the beginning. At 45, I am rebuilding my life piece by piece, learning to find myself again and discovering that being broken by circumstances does not mean being permanently broken. Through endurance, courage, faith and the grace of God, I am learning that a woman can rise from the ashes of what she has endured and begin again.
My hope is that this piece will speak especially to women and girls who may be experiencing, witnessing or beginning to recognize the signs of abuse. Violence does not always begin with physical harm; control, intimidation, manipulation, isolation, humiliation and emotional abuse can also be warning signs of a dangerous situation. I want survivors to know that they are not defined by what happened to them, and that seeking safety and leaving an abusive situation is not weakness, it can be an act of tremendous courage. “Shattered, Not Broken” is ultimately a message of survival, rebirth and hope: what has been broken can be rebuilt, and a life of dignity, freedom and purpose can begin again.
Each year the Association invites young people across the Member States and Territories to answer gender-based violence in their own medium, through the performing or visual arts. Choose a year to see that year’s call, its entrants and its results.
