A 'visual meditation on an artist’s experience of being stalked over the course of five years', StalkHer is a moving and intimate exhibition from Victoria Suvoroff. In two small, but well-curated rooms, the artist takes the visitor on a journey through the distress and trauma of being stalked.
A captivating take on the act of stalking
Through prints and mixed media installations, Suvaroff creates a striking impression on the viewer. In her larger 'Ink on Paper' pieces that fall from the wall to the floor, the artist creates a distressing atmosphere inside the small gallery space. These blurred works, scattered with ink blots in bold pinks and reds are successful in replicating the fear and danger induced by her stalker, perhaps perfectly summarised by the title of one piece, Attention Can Destroy.
As well as the striking prints and installations that hang from the walls, each room hides small and secret works that might otherwise go unnoticed. Treating the 'Artefacts of Stalking' like evidence in a crime scene, the rooms are each scattered with objects that make up the history of this disturbing period of the artist’s life; a letterbox beneath a table, a pair of underwear, and other 'Unwanted Gifts' from her stalker are all kept partially out of sight, helping to create an air of secrecy in the room. We are also privy to a two-sided A4 letter from her stalker, detailing the origin of their obsession. Through these hidden and intimate details, Suvoroff excels in exposing her harasser and the secretive nature of stalking.
Another success of the exhibition is the audio recording I Know Not What To Do But Art, a moving piece of poetry in which the artist details the "Torture on repeat" that is being stalked. These emotive words are also written on the walls of the exhibition and help to outline the fine line between pity and fear that she felt towards her stalker.
Suvaroff’s StalkHer is a captivating take on the act of stalking that gives the viewer a small but chilling insight into this form of intimidation. While some of the abstract art may not be for everyone, the exhibition is expertly put together and important viewing for anyone invested in the fight against harassment.
