Laia Abril: On Rape and Institutional Failure

In On Rape and Institutional Failure , an exhibition centered on the second chapter of her ongoing project A History of Misogyny , Laia Abril examines different forms of violence against women throughout history.

Weaving together images, compiled testimonies, archival materials, select objects, and installations with sound and video, the exhibition investigates how gender-based stereotypes, coupled with worldwide prejudices and misconceptions, have contributed to a systemic rape culture that persists today.

By focusing on institutions, Abril aims to avoid narratives of victim-blaming, instead addressing the on-going problem of social accountability that has allowed offenders and enablers alike to avoid justice. On Rape and Institutional Failure was first exhibited in 2020 in the wake of the initial, galvanizing allegations against Harvey Weinstein and other powerful men. While #MeToo has led to few sustained consequences and little systemic change, Abril offers a meaningful opportunity to address the long history of silencing victims and the transgenerational trauma that has developed as a result.

About the artist

Laia Abril (b. 1986) is a research-based artist working across photography, text, video, and sound, focusing on biopolitics and gender issues. Her work is rooted in a politically engaged, process-driven methodology that employs strategies of forensic aesthetics and counter-narratives, interrogating dominant histories and the politics of representation.