Pain in their art

By Emma Sun
THE South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault (SECASA) is showcasing a unique exhibition of ceramic works by women who have been sexually abused.
The exhibition, titled ‘A Glimpse Within’, is on display at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre and features a piece by Berwick resident Christine Nelkner.
The 31-year-old had lived a destructive life until she started therapy sessions with her counsellor, who is now based at the Cranbourne Integrated Care Centre.
“Anything destructive felt safe to me, sort of like the norm,” Ms Nelkner said.
“I got used to living a destructive life. When you get harmed you sort of withdraw from yourself.”
Her therapist suggested she attend art meetings, which helped her socially and emotionally.
“I was able to talk to people who were in same situation who had been through similar experiences,” she said.
She has been able to pour her feelings into her artworks, which encouraged her to deal with her feelings and let them out.
“It’s good to actually achieve something and make an artwork that looks nice out of the grief,” she said.
“It’s like, there it is there, the grief – you can look at it instead of just feeling it.”
Ms Nelkner has been seeing her counsellor for about five years, which has helped significantly in the healing process.
“You hit a point and you justcrack it and you think ‘I can’tcontinue to have this abuse anymore, there’s something I need to feelwithin myself to not feel trapped or to continue to let people abuse me’,” she said.
“I’ve taken some steps – that initial first step and it slowly progresses. It’s not instant, it’s a long self journey, realising all that.”
She admitted it took a lot of courage to take that first step and speak to somebody about what she was going through.
“I was scared out of my wits,” she said.
“As a victim you think it’s your fault and you’re guilty so that first step is frightful.”
Speaking to somebody is important, and Ms Nelkner encourages people in similar situations to talk to someone.
“Take that first step and talk to SECASA, or lifeline, or to a friend,” she said.
“Especially to a professional, and just say that I need help.”
The art exhibition will run weekdays from 8.30am to 5pm, until 27 April.
The Queen Victoria Women’s Centre is located at 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.