Derived from the ancient Asian form of torture, “Lingchi,” A Thousand Cuts is a photographic study of patterns of domestic abuse in the South Asian community. This metaphor highlights the cyclical nature of abuse, where each act chips away at the soul of the survivor.

Spread across an exhibit, workshop, and discussions, this project by Sujata Setia attempts to move outward from her social context to investigate the politics of abuse and coercive control.

Each portrait features physical cuts, reflecting past trauma and the process of reclaiming power. The close, tightly cropped images evoke a sense of suffocation, mirroring the lack of freedom in abusive environments. The patterns that emerge on the portraits symbolize both submission and resistance, forming an internal dialogue for the survivor and a conversation with the viewer.

A Thousand Cuts invites an open yet intimate conversation between the one confined within the frame of her own reality and the other who observes from outside that frame. The final truth is determined by the outcome of that dialogue. Based on interviews with 21 South Asian women (and ongoing), this photographic study captures the emotional processes that accompany the first public revelation of their private realities.

SCHEDULE

October 15

07:00 PM to 09:00 PM - Preview

October 16

12:00 PM to 09:00 PM - ON VIEW

October 17

11:00 AM to 02:00 PM - “A Thousand Cuts” Art Therapy Workshop.

Passes and more details for the workshop are here.

03:00 PM to 09:00 PM - ON VIEW

October 18 

12:00 PM to 04:00 PM - ON VIEW

05:00 PM to 07:00 PM - Art, Oppression, Empowerment: Conversations on Domestic Abuse (Panel)

08:00 PM to 09:00 PM - ON VIEW

October 19 

12:00 PM to 04:00 PM - ON VIEW

05:00 PM to 07:00 PM - Breaking the Silence: Conversations on Domestic Abuse (Panel)

08:00 PM to 09:00 PM - ON VIEW

Please note that "A Thousand Cuts" includes triggering and/or sensitive material. After the workshop and panel discussions, there will be a sharing circle for those who would like to stay back to ask questions or decompress. The sharing circle will be facilitated by a mental health professional.