Strasbourg. Thinking of You: An exhibition in tribute to victims of sexual violence in times of war

"The dissonance between the bright color of these dresses and the atrocities they embody is striking," notes Valérie Baud-Candau, deputy director of the René Cassin Foundation. The clothes, overlooking Rue des Hallebardes, come from more than 20 countries and were donated by the victims or their loved ones.

The exhibition is intended to be public and available in several locations to "help as many people as possible understand the consequences of sexual violence ," explains Alketa Xhafa Mripa, creator of "Thinking of You."

The symbol is all the more important in Strasbourg, "the heart of European institutions and the defense of human rights," she says. The exhibition has also been moved from the Council of Europe to Rue des Hallebardes, shifting its focus from a political target to the general public.

The artist has collected 8,000 dresses so far, a collection that is unfortunately not yet complete. From Kosovo to Mali, including Ukraine , no war is spared. "Anyone can be a victim in this kind of situation," says Alketa Xhafa Mripa. In another powerful symbol, Gisèle Pélicot 's lawyer gave one of her dresses to the Kosovar artist.

The installation on Rue des Hallebardes is the result of close collaboration with the René Cassin Foundation. Committed to defending human rights, the organization immediately collaborated on the presentation of the project four months ago. "It's a way to restore a little dignity to the victims," ​​says Valérie Baud-Candau.