Australian artist filmed herself 'being raped' by a stranger in New York apartment for project designed to 'dismantle male power'

  • Australian artist unveils 'self-orchestrated rape representation' project
  • Sophia Hewson filmed herself 'being raped' by a stranger in New York
  • Video runs for about three minutes, and focuses on her face throughout
  • Hewson, 31, said she hopes the project will help 'dismantle male power' 

By Liam Quinn For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 13:06 GMT, 19 May 2016 | Updated: 14:57 GMT, 19 May 2016

An Australian artist who filmed herself having sex with a stranger in a 'mock rape' says she wants the video artwork to challenge how society views sexual assault. 

Sophia Hewson shot the project - titled 'are you ok bob?' - in her New York home, and is unveiling it in a Melbourne gallery this week.

The 31-year-old artist described her latest work as a 'militant feminist' piece, and said she hopes it helps 'dismantle male power'. 

Australian artist Sophia Hewson, who filmed herself 'being raped' by a stranger she invited to her apartment for a new exhibition, says the piece is designed to challenge the power men hold in society

Australian artist Sophia Hewson, who filmed herself 'being raped' by a stranger she invited to her apartment for a new exhibition, says the piece is designed to challenge the power men hold in society

For the entirety of the video, which runs for about three minutes and the artist called a 'self-orchestrated rape representation', Hewson's face is the on-screen focus. 

'The raped woman is nearly always depicted with her face downcast and her eyes averted,' Hewson wrote.

'The most confronting aspect of 'are you ok bob?', isn't watching as a woman is struck or penetrated, it's seeing her look back out at us from the experience.

'Central to this work is also the idea that rape is more than an unwanted sexual act, that it is the foundation for the entire institution of the patriarchy, and hence it is the crucial battleground for dismantling male power.' 

For the entirety of the video, which runs for about three minutes, Hewson's face is the on-screen focus and all that is seen of her 'rapist' is his arms and hands

For the entirety of the video, which runs for about three minutes, Hewson's face is the on-screen focus and all that is seen of her 'rapist' is his arms and hands

Sophia Hewson shot the project - titled 'are you ok bob?' - in her New York home, and is unveiling it in a Melbourne gallery this week

Sophia Hewson shot the project - titled 'are you ok bob?' - in her New York home, and is unveiling it in a Melbourne gallery this week

All that is seen of her 'rapist' Bob are his hands and arms. 

Hewson also said she had a number of questions about the way women who have been raped are impacted long after the physical attack.

'Are our cultural approaches to the subject an unconscious championing of male power?' she wrote in an artist statement.

'How much do our social constructs contribute to (and perpetuate) the trauma of women post rape? 

The 31-year-old artist described her latest work as a 'militant feminist' piece, and said she hopes it helps 'dismantle male power'

The 31-year-old artist described her latest work as a 'militant feminist' piece, and said she hopes it helps 'dismantle male power'

Hewson was nominated for the 2014 Archibald Prize for this portrait of herself and Australian musician Missy Higgins kissing

Hewson was nominated for the 2014 Archibald Prize for this portrait of herself and Australian musician Missy Higgins kissing

'Are you ok bob?' will be shown at the MARS gallery in Melbourne from May 19 to June 2

'Are you ok bob?' will be shown at the MARS gallery in Melbourne from May 19 to June 2

'In the ideology of the patriarchy we are forced to choose: devastated women or guilty s***/demonic villain or persecuted man.'

Hewson has held a number of exhibitions, and was a finalist for the Archibald Prize in 2014 and 2015.

The 31-year-old was born in Cambridge, UK, and is now based in Melbourne. 

'Are you ok bob?' will be shown at the MARS gallery in Melbourne from May 19 to June 2. 

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