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Love Is Kind Art Book
Love Is Kind Art Book
ART BOOK
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 01
INTRODUCTION
"Love is kind: youth prevent domestic violence through Art" is an Erasmus+ youth
exchange project which took place in the village of Drugan, Radomir municipality,
Bulgaria from 11-19th of July 2021.
The youth exchange included 26 participants (17-30 years old) residing in Bulgaria,
Serbia, Hungary and Italy among whom were natives from 11 countries, including
Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, Italy, India, Finland, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Palestine,
Pakistan and Colombia.
During the program the young people learned about domestic and intimate partner
violence through a variety of non-formal education activities, discussed how to
build healthy relationships, explored art as a tool for advocacy and created art
works to raise awareness and contribute to domestic and intimate partner
violence prevention through daily thematic workshops.
In this digital book you can see the art pieces created by "Love is Kind"
participants along with short descriptions of each work. As you will see our
participants did not limit themselves to a single art form, they experimented and
created memorable art works utilizing visual art, live performance, speech, writing
and more.
We hope our art book will inspire you to reflect on your own relationships, and
consider how they can be improved in order to be as fulfilling and nurturing as
possible.
International partners:
Edit Centar, Novi Sad, Serbia
Impuls, Tutin, Serbia
Youth in One Association, Budapest, Hungary
Young Effect, Magenta, Italy
Part I
GENDER
PORTRAITS
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 03
Gender is colorful
This painting represents that all of us have a masculine and a feminine side.
How we identify our gender has an impact on the way we think about our
sexuality which is colorful and free. On another hand, I wanted to illustrate
that to be in a healthy relationship, first we have to love ourselves.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 04
Through this picture I wanted to show my gender identity. The black side of it
represents the tough side of me before I met the opposite gender. The red side
represent my child-like tendency to view the world.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 06
There is a hand with five fingers. Fingers are covered in different parts. As the
fingers are covered so some part is also covered more precisely the part we are
showing is covered. Different colors represent that we are all made of different
colors, opinions, desires and that they all come with different backgrounds. The
man in the middle represents us who bravely stand in front of all our thoughts,
attitudes, opinions, and desires. The hand on a person represents the person or the
person as a whole.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 08
There is a hand with five fingers representing a human being. Some fingers
are showing, and some are not which symbolically represents how we show
and hide certain parts of our inner selves. The different colors represent
that we are all made of different opinions and desires and that we all come
with different backgrounds. The person in the middle represents us, the
humans who bravely stand in front of all our thoughts, attitudes, opinions,
and desires.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 09
Our society is gendered, I don’t think there are many hairs to split there.
I do, however, think that a lot of that gendering, regardless of origin, is being
perpetuated by our own, internalized concepts of female, male, and all that lies
in between.
If you’re a female, you’re supposed to stay at home, take care of the kids, be
emotional, and be a sexual object. You’re not allowed to show too much but, you
also can’t be too pure. Oh, you don’t have a man? Well, you better find one if you
don’t want to be forever alone. Do you cook? Then you’re ready to be a wife. You
can’t cook? Your husband won’t be happy and he needs to eat, so you better
learn. What do you mean you want to be strong? You cannot be stronger than a
man. Oh, you like sports? What do you know about sports when you’re not a guy?
And if you’re a guy, then why are you so emotional? What do you mean you don’t
like sports? All guys love sports. Wait you’re in a committed relationship? You
don’t want to have fun? Do you want to be a stay at home dad? Save that for your
wife. Oh, your wife makes more money than you? Leave her to be the man of the
house.
We’ve slowly adapted to the roles that society has created for our gender. We
limit ourselves to what we can do and what we can’t. We judge others for what
they are doing and if they’re doing more than what is expected of them for their
gender, we criticize and believe they aren’t qualified.
I’m breaking away from gender roles because they don't matter anymore. Males
and Females both are strong, beautiful and independent and are worthy to be
loved and valued. At the end of the day we’re all equal.
It’s okay for both genders to cry and to be emotional. You should not be judged
by what you do and what you like and what you don’t like. The gender roles that
society puts on us, should not define the way we live. Be you.
And that, just that, leaves me with a strong desire to smile in hope that I cn fully
realize that the limits of my gender don't have to limit me. I don’t do things just
to prove a point. There is no point, and that is the point.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 10
I sat down. I told the audience how I felt. I told them that I see people as
humans, not as girls or boys. I shared with them my own inner fight while I put
on different shades of paint on my body to represent all the influences that make
me wanna act or feel differently.
Seeing what’s out there makes me wanna be a different person and makes me
wanna be so many things at once but in this process I actually am nothing,
because I can’t be everything all together. I have to be me and me.
Also I put on this song called Reagan by Killer Mike, which represented the
sophists that we have to deal with everyday, the manipulation, and the pressure
to fight everything that comes in front of us because it seems that there’s no
place for weakness. Even when we feel weak, we have to do it in a strong way
because it’s expected from us.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 11
My imagination is a mountain and a book that can fly. There are 2 Reasons why I
choose Books And Mountains.
First, books make you fly. Books change the way you see the world. Books bring
you to a different world. Books build your character, hard work, personal life,
and shape you. Books teach you about cultural differences and build your
understanding of different nations and races. Books help you travel.
Part II
TYPES &
ROOTS OF
ABUSE
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 18
With this creation I wanted to illustrate how toxic it can be if we are in any type
of relationship with someone (family member, friend, intimate partner, collegуе,
etц.) who plays with us like with a doll. It's important to realize if we have an
unhealthy relationship with someone, and to not be allowed to be manipulated.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 19
On the right side of the painting you can see the struggle, the pain represented
with the red color, then the black color of the steps in isolation. We have a step
forward and the fist representing the fight against any type of violence. Around
the fist and to the right edge of the painting we see that the fight continues. The
left side of the painting represents our vision for a better world where there is
love , kindness, tenderness, freedom, patience and connection between people
all around the world.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 20
Bella is a Down syndrome orphan kid who was beaten and physically
abused by her foster family. She is now hospitalized in Malaysia for
treatment. Lets pray for her justice.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 23
In patriarchal societies, such as India, where a few states have low sex ratio. The male are higher in
number compared to female population. Having a girl child are least desired, and not
given equal importance as that of boy child. Girls are unwanted, considered a burden
because of various reasons, one of them being that they do not benefit the parents in any way. They are
killed while still unborn or after birth. This leads to more issues such as; Intimate partner voilence,
Gender based voilence, low sex ratio, higher male population, and leads to more patriarchal setup where
women are not given equal chance for social and economic participation. This picture urges people to
accept girl child as equal as boys and have them with equal love and dignity.
- Avy
In Serbia until recently parents (fathers especially) preferred to have a baby boy, so they put pressure on
women and continued to have children until they had a boy. Sometimes they had 10 female children.This
was associated with domestic violence against girls, raping, etc. We should be equal and feel wanted and
loved no matter what is our gender.
- Anita
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 24
DANIELE, SALMAN,
ZUBAIR, LINDA
Live art
Scene: A person is holding a white canvas and several perpetrators commit violent
acts against him by throwing colors at him. Both the canvas and the person's body
get dirty.
Meaning: The ton-apart canvas with color splashes is what others can see and what
the victim can share about the abuse. However, violence is much more than what
meets the eye. Violence leaves traces that the victim may not be able to see and to
express. This is represented by the color splashes over the body of the victim.
This art is inspired by rape survivors, how they feel alone. In an interview I
heard a rape survivor saying that even after all the time that had passed she
could still feel the hands of her rapist on her.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 26
Economic violence is a frequent but not very known form of partner abuse.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 27
This portrait unfolds the toxic truth people tend to ignore in any kind of
relationship. A lot of people under the rug of love accept injustice and
violent acts towards them thinking it's fine to be hurt in love, but love is an
act that is supposed to help one grow and be healthy. In any case, love is not
supposed to make someone feel otherwise, if it's making someone feel
unworthy, making them feel that they are not enough and they are not given
their space to exist, that's a red flag and good enough reason for someone to
back out.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 29
Objective:
Develop tools to approach the sexism in daily life using our creativity, "healthy sarcasm" and
smartness.
Activity
*Divide the group in peers and give them an example of a sexist remark.
*Encourage them to find a smart, acid and interesting answer to:
* Stop the violent situation IMMEDIATELY.
* EMPOWER the person to respect their RIGHTS
* PREVENT FURTHER VIOLENCE
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 30
Domestic Violence research shows that 1 of 3 women are victims of DV. The two
red hearts feature words related to healthy love, the things and feelings which we
should be present in a healthy relationships. The third one is filled with words
which are associated with pain, unhealthy relations, they are colored in red and
black as they relate to the dark side of love.
Through this art piece the victim is encouraged to recognize their situation, and
seek support at the hotline number which is provided.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 32
Part III
FINAL
PROJECTS
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 34
The red color surrounding the couple arguing portrays love and violence at the
same time. The painting aims to raise awareness about how we can tackle conflicts
by remaining connected through physical touch, not forgetting that in conflict we
should try to resolve the issue constructively, not add more fuel to the fire. The
heart in between the couple is a reminder to not let go of the affection and desire
to reconnect.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 35
I have used the mosquito as a metaphor for violence which causes pain and
leaves a mark on people, both physically and psychologically.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 37
Safety!
Both partners should feel secure with
each other both physically and
emotionally.
Honesty!
Partners should be open and honest
with each other.
Compromise!
Partners need to compromise with
each other, because relationship is
about mutual understanding.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 39
Maa, I'm sorry I've lost faith in your Gods and I'm sorry I won't raise my hands in prayer again. I'm
sorry I'm running behind things, things that are ruining my life. I'm sorry but I never read what you
write. I know your intentions are good but my mind is black.
Maa, I'm sorry that I turned out to be the black sheep and I suffer from radical paralysis and the web of
rational death crosses the path of my dreams and stands like a giant wall each day. I'm the worst of
them all and the plague has caught me. You don't know my mind, it troubles me, and I'm weak so don't
push me further.
Maa, don't tell me l am the best in my trade and there was no one like me, they tell me all the time I
live in a world which is a possibility in the damp old sheets and it hurts me that there is no one to who
has carved the path no one to walk the path with. Maa, the ones who love me call me a dreamer, but my
dreams make me dizzy till I don't shut my eyes again. I dream of the hills each day and they call me
back home.
Maa, do you remember the quiet and kind child? I was if you do remind me again, remind me of the
time when I was happy because I have trouble, I stay up all night to remember that child. If I could
leave I would have done by now, don't pull me back to life again and again, don't be an enemy.
Maa, don't tell me you keep me in your prayers and one day I will get what I deserve and that I
have all your love, it only makes it harder to leave. Maa, I'm sorry I never really did grow up
when everyone close to me was turning grey. and Maa don't put your hopes on my back, a child
of dust and fire I never meant to stay... I'm sorry.
This digital art piece aims to inspire women to fight for their rights,
and not allow others to treat them unequally.
"LOVE IS KIND" ART BOOK PAGE 42
What?
We don't speak the same language also if we have born in the same
country, we don't have the same needs also if we are together since a
while. To understand our partner we should understand how he perceives
our speech, our gesture and our activities.
If you're talking with someone, your goal is that the other person
understand you, if it doesn't, it means that you and him were not on the
same page. Don't expect that he understands you, don't expect that the
other person would anticipate your words, don't expect because you'll get
hurt. Speak clearly, now is your turn to investigate the roots of the
misunderstanding and keep trying to adjust your messages for your
partner.
You'll get surprised about understanding the others is the first step to
understand yourself.
THANK YOU!
"Love is kind: youth prevent domestic violence through Art" is an Erasmus+ youth
exchange project which took place in the village of Drugan, Radomir municipality,
Bulgaria from 11-19th of July 2021.
The youth exchange included 26 participants (17-30 years old) residing in Bulgaria,
Serbia, Hungary and Italy among whom were natives from 11 countries, including
Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, Italy, India, Finland, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Palestine,
Pakistan and Colombia.
During the program the young people learned about domestic and intimate partner
violence through a variety of non-formal education activities, discussed how to
build healthy relationships, explored art as a tool for advocacy and created art
works to raise awareness and contribute to domestic and intimate partner
violence prevention through daily thematic workshops.
In this digital book you can see the art pieces created by "Love is Kind"
participants along with short descriptions of each work. As you will see our
participants did not limit themselves to a single art form, they experimented and
created memorable artworks utilizing visual art, live performance, speech, writing
and more.
We hope our art book will inspire you to reflect on your own relationships, and
consider how they can be improved in order to be as fulfilling and nurturing as
possible.
International partners:
Edit Centar, Novi Sad, Serbia
Impuls, Tutin, Serbia
Youth in One Association, Budapest, Hungary
Young Effect, Magenta, Italy