ART EXHIBITION BY PEOPLE WHO GAVE EVIDENCE TO SEX ABUSE ROYAL COMMISSION, Daily Telegraph (September 15, 2017)

ART EXHIBITION BY PEOPLE WHO GAVE EVIDENCE TO SEX ABUSE ROYAL COMMISSION

Daily Telegraph
September 15, 2017

https://goo.gl/qkPrNQ

Interrelate chief executive officer Patricia Occelli at the opening of an exhibition.

Self Portrait by Kim McCarthy.

Nature's Innocents by Wayne Illes.

Damian's World by Damien Koch.

Self portrait by Samantha Burns.

AS THE Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse continues to hear heart breaking testimony from victims, the first ever Australian exhibition of art by survivors has been launched on the Central Coast.

The collection of works was created by men and women who have already given evidence to the commission about their experiences of institutional abuse.

It is being staged by counselling organisation Interrelate which has been funded by the commission to provide support for victims and their families.

Interrelate chief executive officer Patricia Occelli said the artworks were from people across NSW.

Ms Occell said the stories from the Royal Commission had been horrific but the resilience, hope and healing expressed in the art works was inspirational.

“What I love about this exhibition is that each person has chosen to tell their story in their own particular way,” Ms Occelli said.

“My mission is to take this exhibition way beyond this — because it’s a story that needs to be told,” she said.

Abuse survivor Wayne Illes of Woy Woy was among those to make a submission to the Royal Commission and was a driving force behind staging the exhibition.

Mr Illes endured a childhood of neglect and abuse and was in and out of institutions from the age of four to 16. He attempted suicide at nine. By any measure it was a tough childhood.

”I had to grow up fast,” he said.

“Telling my story to the commission over and over has been hard, but I feel my voice has been heard.”

”You can’t dwell on the darkness or you’ll never see the light — and art has helped me heal.”

He has three artworks in the exhibition — all depicting scenes from nature.

“Nature has been peace for me,” he said.

“If you shine through your artwork — you help other people.”

The Royal Commission continues to hear evidence from people in private session sin major capital cities until the end of November.

It expects to hand down it’s final report in November.