The interactive exhibit “Embroidered With Pain” shares the uncomfortable and often hidden stories of Ukrainians who have survived wartime sexual violence at the hands of Russian soldiers since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Blending ancient tradition with deeply personal stories of trauma and resilience, the exhibition uses the Ukrainian art of rushnyk embroidery to encode and retell the experiences of Ukrainians who endured sexual violence as a weapon of war.
The exhibit features six reproductions of rushnyk tapestries, each encoded with traditional embroidered symbols that tell the story of a wartime sexual violence survivor. The tapestries are accompanied by QR codes that allow us to read the stories of overcoming trauma and finding healing and hope.
“Embroidered With Pain” is a traveling exhibition developed by Ukraine’s One Health on behalf of the Mental Health for Ukraine project and with the support of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. It is on loan in the United States by Cactus and Tryzub and is being co-sponsored in Madison by Friends of Ukraine-Madison and CREECA. The Pyle Center is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Due to the subject matter, ages 16+ only are recommended for this exhibit.
For more information, see the exhibit website.