Hani Chladilová_And Suddenly, There Was Light
(2025)
author(s): Onyx Chladilová
published in: Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
Thesis of the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, 2023
BA Photography
This thesis explores personal journey of the author’s healing
from sexual violence trauma through art making when conventional
therapy was not available. It is divided into two parts
where the first consists of descriptive-research-based writings,
while the second one provides the reader with personal writings
of the author.
The research-based part driven by a question How can
the process of art making help facilitate healing after experiencing
sexual violence firstly focuses on understanding trauma and
its causes and symptoms. Secondly, it provides understanding
of sexual violence, the barriers of reporting sexual violence, additionally,
it provides with understanding of how do survivors heal
from sexual violence induced trauma. Thirdly, it investigates releasing
and redirecting traumatic energy inspired by the writings
of therapist Peter A. Levine and outlines benefits of healing
through art making. Lastly, this part provides nine strategies
to avoid re-traumatization and to cope with potential triggers
when seeking to heal from trauma through art making.
The personal writings include thoughts, poems, notes
to self, and excerpts from a personal diary throughout author’s
endeavor to seek closure and become healed from sexual violence
induced trauma.
Overall, the thesis aims to inspire survivors of sexual violence
and other forms of trauma to include artmaking into their
journey of becoming healed.
