Unsafe Spaces - BFA Thesis Exhibition

In this series, Gowland delves into her own personal encounters with abusers of positions of authority, as an undergraduate student navigating power dynamics between men in power and their female subordinates. She uses digital photography and intaglio to portray unsolicited attention as a Westernized feminine ordeal. Gowland intertwines “girlish” imagery with not-so-radical safety precautions such as alarms, whistles and “dog” spray keychains. By capturing trauma in tainted spaces, she aims to reclaim autonomy and facilitate healing. She pairs depictions of “unsafe spaces'' with verbal justifications used by those in positions of power to justify inappropriate behaviour. By revealing these intimate scenarios, Gowland advocates for women experiencing similar struggles. She provides personal protection whistles to visitors throughout the duration of her exhibition as a reminder of constant vigilance. She shares her experience with one particularly mishandled instance of sexual harassment that had occurred on campus during her undergrad at Queen’s University, aiming to deter future discomfort for her peers, and to encourage young women in similar situations to speak up for themselves.