Ali Ruffner

    

Ali Ruffner

Violations: 1994-present / sometime in August 2016 / June 2015 / 2013 and June 15, 2014 / a weekend in December / fall 2015 / 2009 / May 14, 2001, February 5, 2002, & September 21, 2013

7’ x 3’ x 3’

Cast iron bathtub, gifted underwear, water, soap, towels, and bathmat

Violations is a small instillation in which I asked eight of my friends who have been victims/survivors of rape, sexual assault, and abuse to give me their underwear. Its interest is to highlight the cleansing process that often happens after an assault- how women often take multiple showers or baths in order to feel clean again after the fact, or the feeling of being dirty and trying to soak to get away from yourself. What does this cleansing mean in getting relationship to letting go of something through getting rid of a pair of underwear. What does it feel like to have the same intimate garment (underwear) that is personal and private, that is also linked to how one was violated in some way, to be used in relationship with other women who have experienced similar things? The women noted this experience as empowering, important, scary and intimate.