A Thousand Cuts: Unveiling the Veil of Domestic Abuse
Congratulations to Sujata Setia on her Sony Photography Award, well deserved for her gorgeous and powerful photographic series, "A Thousand Cuts," which serves as a poignant exploration of the cyclical nature of domestic abuse within the South Asian community. Drawing inspiration from the ancient Asian form of torture known as "Lingchi," or death by a thousand cuts, Setia delves into the patterns and narratives of domestic violence, shedding light on the silent struggles of survivors.
The metaphorical resonance of Lingchi is palpable throughout Setia's work, as she captures the continuous erosion of the soul through the act of chipping away at the participant's portrait. Each cut on the thin A4 paper not only symbolizes the fragility of existence but also serves as a reminder of the enduring pain inflicted upon the abused. It is the artist’s deliberate choice to keep the project at a domestic scale, using resources available within the home, further emphasizing the intimate and personal nature of the violence that occurs within the household. The vivid red color underneath the portraits signifies martyrdom and strength and the promise of a new beginning—a testament to the resilience of survivors who rise from the ashes of their trauma.
For Setia, embarking on this journey was a personal and professional challenge. As a South Asian woman, she grappled with deeply ingrained cultural values that often prioritize endurance of pain and sacrifice over individual agency and empowerment. Through her encounters with survivors, she confronted her own experiences of abuse, transforming from an outsider to an insider within this intimate cohort of women. Through the collaborative process of creating this series of works, Setia and the survivors embarked on a journey of healing and self-discovery. Through the normalization of dialogue and the amplification of individual narratives, Setia envisions a future where the collective trauma of domestic violence is acknowledged and addressed with empathy and understanding.
About the Artist
Despite lacking formal photography training, Sujata’s innate connection to art has guided her through life's challenges. Following a successful career in journalism in India, she pursued a Master's in International Relations in the UK. However, it was a battle with clinical depression that led her to discover photography as a form of healing. Her artistic practice is deeply autobiographical, rooted in the exploration of emotions and experiences.
