Currently in production……….

Artist Statement

This project confronts one of the most common and misunderstood questions surrounding domestic abuse: Why didn't you just leave? Through the stories of courageous survivors, it challenges harmful assumptions, reduces stigma, and encourages greater understanding of the complex realities of living in an abusive relationship.

At its heart, this work is about empowerment, healing, courage, and hope. It aims to make survivors visible and heard—not as victims defined by their experiences, but as resilient individuals whose strength, beauty, and determination demonstrate that there is life after abuse. Their journeys are a testament to the possibility of healing, recovery, and creating a future beyond what once seemed imaginable.

The intention of this project is to encourage those currently living with abuse to believe that leaving is not the end of their story, but the beginning of a new one. Although the path to freedom is rarely easy, and the abuse can often intensify before it gets better, it is possible to rebuild, rediscover yourself, and create the life you deserve. With time, support, and compassion, survivors can achieve things they never thought possible and become the person they were always meant to be, and more.

The experiences shared by the incredible volunteers in this project offer an honest insight into why people don't "just leave." They highlight the vital role that family, friends, and support networks play in helping survivors escape and rebuild their lives. Without that support, many of these stories could have had very different endings.

It is also hoped that the recurring red flags, patterns of coercive control, and common personality traits of the perpetrators highlighted throughout these testimonies will help those currently living in abusive relationships recognise that what they are experiencing is not normal or imagined.  By identifying behaviours that can become so familiar they are often minimised or misunderstood, this project aims to bring clarity to the confusion that abuse creates and empower victims to recognise their own experiences.

This project also seeks to educate, raise awareness, and promote meaningful change. Despite growing public understanding, survivors continue to be failed by agencies and the justice system. There is still much work to be done to ensure domestic abuse is recognised, understood, and responded to with the care and urgency it deserves.

For many participants, sharing their story has been an act of catharsis—a reclaiming of their voice and identity. By bringing these stories into the light, this project hopes to inspire conversation, foster empathy, encourage those still living with abuse to seek safety, and remind every survivor that they are not alone.

Names have been changed to protect the identity and safety of all participants.