Blog | CCU student’s depiction of violent rape of nude woman goes on display in Conway (warning: graphic image included)
Warning: Coastal Carolina University senior art student Allison Dunavant’s art work can be jarring to some readers and includes a depiction of a nude young woman being raped. She wants to wake people up about the horror that is the reality of rape and believes this is a way to force people to think beyond the rape headlines.
For those who want to see those paintings, click here: CCU student raises awareness about rape
You can also read my column about her work here: CCU student wants you to stop looking away
Related: Find more of Dunavant’s work here.
Here is a Q&A with the artist:
Bailey: Tell me a bit about yourself, when you are graduating and what you plan to do after graduation.
Dunavant: My major is studio art and I have a minor in art history. I graduate December 13th. I will be applying to grad school. I'd like to pursue an MFA in studio art and eventually get my PhD in art history. I'm not sure at which university yet.
Bailey: Why this type of project, and why now?
Dunavant: At CCU within the art department, we are asked to create a cohesive body of work for a senior show, a thesis, so to speak, that encompasses some of the many skills we have learned while at the university but in a way that is applicable to what we as individuals want to create. I have never believed that art was simply meant to be beautiful. Within all of my personal work I try and tackle subjects that we don’t necessarily speak about, religion, depression, etc. Art allows for this kind of special unspoken discourse that is really powerful. And art is a great way to solve problems, especially since our world is so saturated with images. Unfortunately, rape and sexual violence are huge problems, here at Coastal Carolina, here in the United States, and worldwide as well. It’s a pervading concern that we are just now attempting to tackle. But it’s a hard thing to tackle because it’s so unspeakable and consciously avoided. I think perhaps because people are unwilling to understand. This is why I’ve chosen to paint. It’s easy to avoid reading something, like the many articles that saturate our news, but much harder to avoid imagery.
Bailey: As you were doing this, what was the reaction of your professors, your sister, mom, dad, etc.?
Dunavant: Honestly, I have gotten many conflicting responses. Initially, a few of my professors seemed very skeptical of my project-some claiming to not understand my intention with it and others telling me my paintings were offensive. I was told to crop my images, to avoid the nudity and implied violence, and also told by one professor to start over completely. With that said, I had two faculty members that were beyond supportive of my endeavor into this type of controversial concern. My family, besides my mother, were in disapproval at first of the project but have come to appreciate it for the significance it might have for the issue of rape. Overall, I have found that reactions vary from person to person, which is perfectly okay. I understand if my work is seen as offensive - because rape itself is an offense on so many levels.
Related: The military’s rough justice on sexual assault
Bailey: When I first saw the paintings, they were powerful and jarring. What type of reaction do you want to have on those who view these works of art?
Dunavant: I cannot say that I’m expecting any particular type of reaction; I’m just expecting many different reactions. Some people will hate my work, some will find it offensive, some will find it powerful, and some will relate to it. All of those are valid responses. I am just hoping that my work makes a difference, even if just to one person. I guess the reaction I am hoping for is an understanding of rape in some way that will lead to awareness.
Bailey: Do you believe CCU handles the issue of rape well?
Dunavant: I do not believe any university or college handles the issue of rape well. I mean look at how Florida State University handled the rape allegations involving Jameis Winston. He hasn’t even gone through the Title IX process yet because football season is the priority. [Winston’s hearing began Tuesday, two years after the alleged rape.] Or look at James Madison University. The three fraternity members videotaped their sexual assault of another student and received expulsion after graduation as their punishment. It’s almost laughable, except that it’s not funny at all. How can we expect change when we belittle a crime? How can we expect women to come forward and report sexual assault when we re-victimize the victims? Universities are failing their students in this aspect. I will say that from what I have seen, CCU has to be pushed to deal with sexual assault cases so much so that I understand why women do not always report instances of rape and sexual assault. Universities do not willingly or justly deal with these concerns on their own.
Bailey: In your write-up that accompanies the art work, you mentioned "personal experiences" but didn't detail just what they were. Why? Isn't part of the purpose of your work to make it harder for people to ignore this issue? If so, why not deal more openly with your personal experience with this, that you or someone close to you ? As powerful as your display is, wouldn't that make it even more powerful, or are there other considerations that kept you back from going that route?
Dunavant: I appreciate this question. However, my personal experiences, as I called them, are insignificant to the overall meaning and I stand firmly by that. I say this because the intention is not to tell my story or anyone else’s specifically. Theoretically, if I painted my experiences and labeled it as so the work would be unique to me and would be about healing and personal recovery. It would be diaristic. If I had painted someone else’s experiences, well that’s simply not at all my place. My place is to bring about awareness in the only way that I know how, which is through painting. It is enough to say that I have had personal experiences to inform the viewer that I do not paint this subject blindly.
Bailey: Did you speak to other rape victims as you worked on this project? If so, what were they saying? How do you think they will respond to seeing this?
Dunavant: I did actually. I found that as I worked on these, and as individuals saw my work, they came up to me to share their own personal stories. People who have been raped or sexually assaulted or have had experience with it always look at my work differently and relate to certain things that I’ve included in my paintings. I imagine that it will possibly upset some individuals if they are not far enough removed from the instance they experienced.
Related: Rolling Stone never gave the villains of the gang rape story a chance to defend themselves
Bailey: What's the message to men in all of this, if there is one?
Dunavant: Rape and sexual assault happen to men as well, and it happens in more ways than just the scenario I have painted. So my message to men is the same as it is to women. My message is to be aware. Understand rape and concerns of consent. Understand how prevalent this is within our culture. Understand not just the physical effects of rape but the lasting psychological violations as well. It is not a joke and it is not something we have to put up with. Finally, my message would be to have courage to confront this, because you’re not alone. When I say this I do not just mean it is women that need the courage to confront it; it is men as well. It is everyone. It is universities, it is the government and it is our society that needs to gain a greater boldness to confront the issue and cause change. While I encourage women in particular to come forward and stand up for themselves, to name victims would be to point fingers and to be specific would be unnecessarily. My work is not about labeling victims as victims. It's about creating an understanding that there are victims. If I were to tell you that there are approximately 237, 868 rape/sexual assault victims annually, would it matter if I listed individual names? Would it make it any less horrific? I would have to say no, that the number stands alone with its power. The same with these images I have created. I believe that their emotive quality is just as, if not more, commanding than any individual name could ever be.
Her work is a part of a larger, annual project at CCU every year for art students.
Here’s the release from Coastal about the program:
Graduating seniors from Coastal Carolina University’s Studio Art and Graphic Design program will present their thesis exhibition “Portfolios” Dec.4 through 13 in the Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts.
A closing reception for “Portfolios” will be held in the gallery on Friday, Dec. 12, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public, as is the reception.
“Portfolios” will feature works by senior studio art and graphic design students Brandon Alston (Myrtle Beach), Taryn Chepanoske (Pittsburgh, Penn.), Allison Dunavant (North Myrtle Beach), Hannah Glatki (Cape Cod, Mass.), Princess Houey (Columbia), Chris Johnson (Newark, Del.), Khayla Johnson (Charleston), Joshua Jones (Loris), Joshua Knight (Dillon), Daniel Mableton (Winnsboro), Diamond McCray (Nesmith), Mike McClure (Rock Hill), Cory McNair (Conway), Charles Merchant (Myrtle Beach), Brandon Naperstek (Dennisville, N.J.), Jonathan Perry (Ladson), Caleb Sarvis (Loris), Kristin Shamro, Fanxi Yang (China) and Xiqian Zhao (China).
The Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery is located in Room 129 in the Edwards College at 133 Chanticleer Drive W. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday as well as noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, following commencement.
This story was originally published December 3, 2014 at 1:30 PM with the headline "Blog | CCU student’s depiction of violent rape of nude woman goes on display in Conway (warning: graphic image included)."