Identity: Empowerment & Narrative
Abuse attempts to rewrite how we see ourselves—eroding our confidence, clouding the mirror, and leaving us disconnected from our own bodies.
This series is dedicated to the women who have walked through that erasure and are now navigating the journey back to themselves. Through these works, I aim to create a space where we can begin to love what was belittled and find a renewed pride in the strength of who we have become.
Blue - 2024
Linda Bilská, Blue
2024, Mixed media on canvas
Initialed recto; signed, titled and dated verso
30 x 30 cm
Private Collection
When I think about past I imagine everything in two colors.
Red and Blue.
Blue represents all the pain I felt. No matter whether it was constantly reminded to me by blue marks left on my skin, or it was “only” the mental pain I felt. Abuse comes in many forms. Some of us are financially imprisoned, some are physically reminded of our weaker sex, some are never good enough, never important. One thing we all have in common, after some time we believe our masters and all their lies that are supposed to keep us quiet and in their power. We give them our free will and we endure whatever pain we are given.
NO! It is not our fault. NO! We are not weak, nor ugly, nor are we bad moms or wives. We are good enough for anyone the love us. Most importantly we are more than enough for us to love yourselves, to love our form and shape.
From the Weight of Blue to the Fire of Red.
Red - 2024
Linda Bilská, Red
2024, Mixed media on canvas
Initialed recto; signed, titled and dated verso
30 x 30 cm
Private Collection
Red represents all the anger I had in me. First I was angry at him for treating me the way he did. Then I was angry at myself for letting him treat me the way he did. Lastly I was angry at the whole world for being blind.
Now I am no longer angry. To be frank I don’t even care why this whole thing had to happen to me and I no longer wonder whose fault it was. I am out and that’s all that matters.
It sounds easy I know, but it actually took me years of therapy to come to this point.
I used to hate every part of my body that was shamed because I believed all those ugly lies. Eventually I learned how to fall in love with the belly that was a home for my baby, breasts that fed her, hips and thighs that carried us both in the good and in the worst times, face that hid all the pain, feet that led me out of abuse.
I wish nothing more than for all of us to stop listening to the toxic words of those who sought to dim our light, to have a clear vision when looking at ourselves, and to simply love every centimeter of our gorgeous being.