Empowerment from Within: An Art Project "She Paints Her Sky" in Bali Island Paves the Way

Bali, cheered by the world for its arts and culture, gives little recognition to their women despite their contributions to the fame and economy. The art scene in the island is still male-dominated. Female artists are not getting enough support to be within the network. Domestication, (traditional) values embedded within the society, becomes one of the reasons. Secondly, it is globalization, or neocolonialism. The two are interrelated.

She Paints Her Sky (SPHS), a kick start project by Afrosian - which aims to become platform for connecting voices of African and Asian women for sustainable peace – uses art as the tool to empower women from within; it takes psychosocial approach in its method. SPHS is implemented by women of Bali, painters, who amongst them are victims of violence against women. Its activities include workshops (for self-reflection), creating a space (gallery) as center of activities and to exhibit women’s artworks, and online shop to support women to be economically independent. SPHS works to grow female artists network – to have one another hand-in-hand could help boosting women’s self-confidence, and then, the women can transfer their skills to the younger generations – changes need to start at an early age. It sets off in Bali as the island can illustrate social complexity that a woman can face in performing their best.

This project seeks to spread to other regions within Asia and Africa, to reach trauma survivors next. The aim will be first, self-healing, to set one back on the ground.