The exhibition “Broken,” showcased in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities’ LookOut! Gallery, tells the shocking stories and facts about human trafficking.
When thinking about human trafficking, something that comes to mind may be the “bring back our girls” Twitter campaign that was popular in the month of April. In short, it was a hashtag that trended in response to a kidnapping of 276 female students at the hands of terrorist organization Boko Haram. The outrage has died down, yet the girls remain missing.
This example, along with the fact that there are millions of other victims of human trafficking, shows that the problem is one that seems to be easily forgotten. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world. However, it still doesn’t seem to be a hot-button issue.
That’s what Sally Thielen and Susan Clinthorne want to change. Together, the sisters have created an exhibition showcasing the facts and stories related to human trafficking and modern day slavery. The exhibition consists of everything from dolls in cages that represent victims of human trafficking to lamented sheets of paper displaying staggering facts about human trafficking and slavery. It’s social art and is meant to create an experience for the viewer, Clinthorne said. As a rather large installation work, it also includes paintings, drawings, assemblage and needlework.
The exhibition’s name represents the shattered self-worth of individuals who have become victims of the awful crimes.
““Broken” comes from one of the main pieces of art, a mirror with a woman’s face in it that has been shattered, said Clinthorne. “It stands for shattered self-esteem and self-image and represents broken justice systems.”
Since debuting a year ago in the summer, “Broken” has been shown 12 times in different venues, such as churches, galleries and museums. It’s on display at the LookOut! Gallery until Friday.