Allie Crewe

I Am Commission

 When a person leaves a violent or controlling relationship, they often lose their identity. I Am is a visual narrative reclaiming the face or body. They ask us to confront their gaze, pay attention to their trauma and survival, and note their resilience.

 91% of domestic violence crimes that cause injuries are against women and 93% of perpetrators who abused women, are male. (figs. Women's Aid/SafeLives 2019). All of the people here have lived experience of intimate partner crime.

Observer
BBC news   
the Telegraph
the Independent
the Standard
Vanity Fair
Participant's Stories

More media at the end. Commissioned by SafeLives and SICK! Festival.

I am a survivor of childhood domestic abuse.


Selection of images. 

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

Winner Edition 365 2023

Chief Inspector Sharon Baker

Winner Edition 365 2023

Chief Inspector Sharon Baker

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

We are all transforming. It is part of life.

We are all transforming. It is part of life.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

 After trauma we may heal and grow.

 After trauma we may heal and grow.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

I have an M.A.  I am a proud black woman, mother, sister, friend.

I have an M.A.  I am a proud black woman, mother, sister, friend.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

 I look angry here, I am angry.

 I look angry here, I am angry.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

He waited until he was 80 to speak about his childhood

He waited until he was 80 to speak about his childhood

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

Having a successful acting career does not protect a woman

Having a successful acting career does not protect a woman

"Incredibly moving and inspiring: Moving because of the depth of pain and loss that the survivors have endured at the hands of those who claimed to love them; and inspiring because these photographs show us how survivors can, and do, take back their own identity and their own stories, which too often have been eroded and taken from them by the abuse they have suffered. Part of the power of these photographs lies in the fact that the images are not of victims as we might have supposed, but, in the words of one of them, "strong, brave feisty survivors, changing the journey from victim to victor." 

Queen Camilla 
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

With his boots and fists he broke my back.

With his boots and fists he broke my back.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

Photograph this scar here on my neck.

Photograph this scar here on my neck.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

 I want to be around others like me that understand the codes of domestic abuse and racial trauma.

 I want to be around others like me that understand the codes of domestic abuse and racial trauma.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

Transgender people experience intimate partner abuse

Transgender people experience intimate partner abuse

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

 A long unhappy marriage, her charity just won a national award. 

 A long unhappy marriage, her charity just won a national award. 

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

The next morning when I got up for school there was blood all over the living room.

The next morning when I got up for school there was blood all over the living room.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

His father murdered his mother and sister.

His father murdered his mother and sister.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

 It's my choice now

what colour I paint, what clothes I want to wear

 It's my choice now

what colour I paint, what clothes I want to wear

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

Life changing injuries, she became a reiki master to heal others.

Life changing injuries, she became a reiki master to heal others.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

It didn’t escalate until I fell pregnant at 18.

It didn’t escalate until I fell pregnant at 18.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

Holocaust survivor and psychotherapist. 40 year sentence of abuse in marriage. 

Holocaust survivor and psychotherapist. 40 year sentence of abuse in marriage. 

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

My wheelchair can make me a target for certain men.

My wheelchair can make me a target for certain men.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

We talked about reframing the gaze and how portraiture isn't just about being looked at – it's about looking right back.

We talked about reframing the gaze and how portraiture isn't just about being looked at – it's about looking right back.

I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall

Cancer nurse.

Cancer nurse.

46 portraits...and the 7 people who had to withdraw for personal safety

...and those who are in hiding with witness protection who shared a story, but could not have a portrait taken.

An article in the Observer
A short clip available to watch on the Royal Family YouTube channel
An article written for BBC News online
An article in the Telegraph
An article in the Independent
An article in the Standard
An article in Daily Mail
An article in Vanity Fair
An article in Woman & Home
An article in People magazine
Coverage by MSN
Manchester Evening News-numerous articles including:powerful portraits are going on display
'It's very empowering': Manchester gets royal visit as Camilla launches project aimed at tackling domestic abuse
She suffered domestic abuse in silence - now she is sharing her story across Manchester
An article in Manchester World
An article in News and Star
An article in Belfast Telegraph

 When a person leaves a violent or controlling relationship, they often lose their identity. I Am is a visual narrative reclaiming the face or body. They ask us to...
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
"Incredibly moving and inspiring: Moving because of the depth of pain and loss that the survivors have endured at the hands of those who claimed...
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
I Am, portraits, domestic violence, domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, SafeLives, SICK! Festival, the Duchess of Cornwall
46 portraits...and the 7 people who had to withdraw for personal safety...and those who are in hiding with witness protection who shared a story, but...
An article in the ObserverA short clip available to watch on the Royal Family YouTube channelAn article written for BBC News onlineAn article in the...
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