FACELESS is a photography art installation that provides a platform for 20 women to intimately and vulnerably share their sexual assault in an anonymous setting.

Rape is not a singular physical attack but an assault on all dimensions of a person’s wellness. Sexual assault causes repercussions that become a permanent fixture in the survivor’s life. This project directly documents the repercussions, allowing the viewer to glimpse the rawness of the actual incident, aftermath, shame, blame, support system or lack thereof, and current daily life of the survivors.

My hope is for this project to ignite an open dialogue and bring awareness to an upsetting issue that it too often ignored or met with skepticism.

contact: facelessnomore@gmail.com

instagram: @facelessnomore

facebook: www.facebook.com/facelessproject

Hear us.

“At the end of the day, admitting that your friend, your neighbor, your relative, your partner, your child, or your coworker might be capable of such selfish aggression and violent or psychological control is not a reality many people want to deal with. ”

“At the time it happened, I believe it was my fault for getting too drunk. It took 25 years to realize that I’d been raped.”

“I never went to the police because I was drinking and underage. I was afraid of being expelled from school for going to a party. I didn’t have any proof that I was attacked other than my story, and I heard the campus police had a history of victim blaming. The last thing I wanted was to have a cop tell me that I deserved it.”

“I was told that if a man pays attention to you, you should be grateful. I was told that he’s just flirting. I was told that he couldn’t control himself, that I must have done something to encourage him.”

“I felt responsible and like I put myself in this situation. I was underage and drinking. I grew up in a very conservative family, very religious, who taught me that drinking, partying, and doing drugs would only lead to bad things. I thought I was being punished by God.”

“My attacker was one of my best friends in high school. ”

“Nobody noticed what was happening. My mother kept silent for years.”

“I convinced myself it was a misunderstanding, that I had not actually tried to push him off me, that I should not have given in to curiosity and romance in the first place. I cheated on my boyfriend. This was my fault. Maybe I deserved it.”

“I still live with one of my abusers. I created a situation where I’m safe and he will no longer do anything to me.”

“We live in a society that condones rape.”

“As an adult, I’m SHOCKED no one ever came forward and stood up for the things that were happening to me and my sisters. I have a lot of bitterness and resentment toward family members who were so “close” yet did nothing.”

“It happened at 3 until I was 12. I didn’t share until I was 12.”

“I have been raped and sexually assaulted more than once.”

The next phase: FACELESS SACRAMENTO.

I, (Sarah Marie Hawkins), am starting work on a Sacramento specific Faceless where all participants were either living in Sacramento at the time of their assault or currently reside in Sacramento. Faceless Sacramento will be the first of many city specific Faceless installations.

If you are interested in participating please click on the image to fill out a brief questionnaire. All info shared is anonymous and will not be shared.