‘Secrets make you sick’: Sexual abuse survivor sculptures look to get Hawke’s Bay audiences talking

By Mitchell Hageman,  10 Oct, 2023 02:49 PM

Warning: This story discusses sexual abuse.

As Rangitikei artist Catherine Daniels stands in the corner of her temporary gallery at Creative Arts Napier, she’s surrounded by a sea of pale, gaunt sculptures, their mouths sewn shut and eyes black and hollow.

Some passersby would describe them as harrowing or horrific, while others have hugged them, broken down in tears and called them beautiful.

The sculptures are a reflection of Daniels’ life. She’s a survivor of child sexual abuse who, for nearly 50 years, was afraid to tell her story because of the stigma and shame.