The association “La Voix de Sarah” addresses the theme of violence and sexual assault in the sports industry through a series of photographs by Tom Batowicz.
“You were my coach. I had just turned fifteen. And you raped me.
It took 30 years for my hidden anger to finally turn into a public outcry.
You destroyed my life, Mr. O., while you quietly lived yours. Today, I want to sweep away my shame, to shift it to the other side… I am breaking this deadly silence and calling on all victims to do the same,” writes Sarah Abitbol.
Inaugurated on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in the presence of Sarah Abitbol, the exhibition takes up residence in Nice until December 9. First presented last January at the Ministry of Sports, it has since traveled across France. It is now visible under the pergola of the Promenade des Anglais, facing the Palais de la Méditerranée.
In January 2020, Sarah Abitbol, a retired figure skater since 2003, published her book titled “Un si long silence” (Such a Long Silence). In it, she recounts the sexual assaults and rapes she endured by her coach from ages 15 to 17.
This testimony comes three years after the beginning of the #Metoo movement and constitutes a true turning point in the liberation of speech regarding sexual violence in the sports field. At that time, with her story, she breaks the silence and helps lift the taboo that binds victims.
Raising Awareness Subtly
With this exhibition, the multiple figure skating champion continues her fight. Through a series of twenty photographs by Tom Batowicz, she aims to denounce and combat sexual violence in sports.
The pictures depict young female athletes in their diversity, all facing distressing situations with a subtle staging, sometimes dreamlike, poetic, or surreal. Various disciplines are represented: gymnastics, tennis, swimming, karate, fencing, or figure skating.
The photographs are far from explicit; everything is in the detail. The eye is initially drawn to the overall aesthetic, the play of light and contrasts, and the warm colors before confronting what the photograph truly conveys, a reality.
Each photo is accompanied by a word or a short and impactful phrase like “Shame must change sides”, “Don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret between us”, “When the body says stop”, “Defiled”.
The idea is thus to alert and raise awareness among a broad audience about the issue of sexual violence in sports by allowing the power of each photograph to tell its story, without “shocking.” Each picture is left open to interpretation.
