Paige : "My projects each tell a story of an event which happened to me. ‘The Aftermath’ is a series in which I documented myself as a victim. I captured the true essence of me being guarded and vulnerable. I came across the idea after the tragic event happened. Then, of course, taking the work of Lorna Simpson into consideration as I felt at this moment in time I could really connect with her work. Her style reflects upon memory and body with women standing silent against violence. Her photography gives an insight into vulnerability and submission. I planned to photograph myself in this way, revealing my story to everyone. My aim was to put a message across to viewers who have been through the same thing, that they are not alone and silence is not the answer.

Photographing and developing film was my way of beginning to heal, which led on to my projects “Process” and "STOP", developing the negatives by stopping the process. The development stages define my healing process through the after-effects of rape. My work was also influenced by the feminist approach of Hannah Wilke's work. I visited ‘The Burden Of Proof’ exhibition at The Photographers Gallery (in London, UK), which interprets violence and reinforces the night in a metaphoric way. The empty skate park which I photographed is ambiguous and atmospheric, the viewer is looking in on a crime scene, and the dangers of the night.

I was not silenced and others shouldn’t be silenced either - my photographs are to inspire others to go forward. More exposure for this, I think, will help survivors move forward in their lives. Although they may not get justice they can say : “I tried, I’m a survivor and activist”, and that for me is important. My exhibitions reveal to other women that they are not alone and if I can document and expose my story, any one can do it !"


Eight images from this project are shown below :