Artist films herself being raped in a ‘rape representation’ art project

She has filmed herself in what she calls a “self-orchestrated rape representation”, designed to challenge the power men hold in society

An Australian artist filmed herself ‘being raped’ by a stranger she invited to her house in New York to have sexual intercourse with her on camera for a new exhibition.

For the project, titled “are you ok bob?”, Sophia Hewson has filmed herself in what she calls a “self-orchestrated rape representation”, designed to challenge the power men hold in society.

Throughout the choreographed three-minute clip, the lens remains on her face. Arms and hands are all you see of “Bob”.

Hewson shot the project in her New York home and is unveiling it in a Melbourne gallery.

She described her latest work as a ‘militant feminist’ piece and that the “militant feminist” piece aims to challenge the patriarchy.

“The raped woman, still today, is nearly always represented with her face down and her eyes averted,” she said.

“The most confronting aspect of are you ok bob? isn’t watching as a woman is struck or penetrated, it’s seeing her look back out at us from the experience. She looks accusingly as a subject, not an object.”

“Central to this work is also the idea that rape is more than an unwanted sexual act, that it is the foundation for the entire institution of the patriarchy, and hence it is the crucial battleground for dismantling male power,” Hewson said, as The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Hewson has held a number of exhibitions. She was also finalist for the Archibald Prize in 2014 and 2015.

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