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Alison Little’s landmark exhibition

SV: Sex by Violence is a bold and unflinching sculptural installation by Liverpool‑based feminist artist Alison Little, created to confront the lived realities of sexual violence. Through four animated sculptural forms, the installation guides audiences through the emotional and physical stages of trauma—violation, shock, fatigue, and recovery. Combining visceral materials with political urgency, the installation transforms the gallery into a space for reflection, activism, and collective witnessing.

Originally exhibited in full as a solo show at Zauhouse Gallery, Liverpool, in 2018, the installation remains one of Little’s most significant contributions to feminist art and anti‑violence campaigning in the North West.

🔥 Exhibition Overview: Art as Activism

SV: Sex by Violence uses sculptural language to expose the psychological and physical impacts of sexual assault. Each work takes the form of a female lower body, constructed from polythene, shredded paper, wire wool, and found materials. These materials—fragile, abrasive, and industrial—mirror the contradictions of trauma: vulnerability, violation, resilience, and renewal.

The installation begins at the gallery entrance, where the exhibition title is etched and echoed across the threshold. Inside, vivid shredded colours disrupt the neutrality of the white cube, immersing visitors in a sensory environment that refuses silence or detachment.

This exhibition was conceived not only as an artistic statement but as a tool of activism, aligning with Little’s long‑standing commitment to challenging violence against women.

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🩸 The Four Sculptures: A Journey Through Trauma and Healing

1. Invasion

The most confrontational work in the series, Invasion represents the moment of violation. A protruding nail in the groin area symbolises forced intrusion and bodily trauma. Rusted spirals and wire wool intensify the sense of pain, resistance, and rupture.

2. Coming To

This sculpture captures the disorienting aftermath of assault. Blue tones flow through the form, suggesting water, circulation, and the body’s attempt to stabilise. Zigzag patterns reflect the fractured reconnection between mind and body as clinical shock begins to lift.

3. Fatigue

Here, the body lies stretched out—exhausted, depleted, and processing the physical toll of trauma. Small leaves emerge from the form, symbolising early regeneration and the fragile beginnings of recovery.

4. Life from the Waist Down

The final sculpture stands upright, embodying resilience, autonomy, and renewal. This work marks the transition from surviving to reclaiming, offering a visual language of strength and self‑possession.

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🎨 Artist Background: A Practice Rooted in Feminism, Community, and Activism

Alison Little’s conceptual practice has evolved significantly over the past decade. Her work began gaining momentum through exhibitions at:

• The Williamson Art Gallery, Wirral
• Unit 51, Baltic Triangle, Liverpool
• A commission for the Equality Council in Derby, exploring themes of identity and social justice

Her curatorial work is equally rooted in activism. SV: Sex by Violence is the second exhibition she has curated. The first, Shatter the Silence: Violence Against Women, was a group show held at the Quaker Meeting House on School Lane in Liverpool city centre, bringing together artists committed to challenging gender‑based violence.

Beyond the gallery, Little plays an active role in community activism. She helps organise Liverpool’s annual Reclaim the Night March, held each spring—a major feminist event demanding safety, justice, and visibility for women.

This intersection of art and activism is central to her practice. SV: Sex by Violence was conceived not only as an exhibition but as a campaigning tool, amplifying conversations around sexual violence and contributing to broader efforts for social change.

💬 Aims and Impact of the Exhibition

The installation seeks to:

• Raise awareness of sexual violence and its long‑term impacts
• Create space for dialogue within a gallery context
• Support activist movements addressing violence against women
• Challenge audiences through a balance of aesthetic intensity and difficult subject matter
• Use art as a catalyst for empathy, understanding, and social change

By guiding viewers through a visceral emotional journey, the installation encourages deeper engagement with the realities of trauma and the resilience of survivors.

🌱 Conclusion: A Landmark in Feminist Sculpture and Activist Art

SV: Sex by Violence stands as a visually arresting and emotionally charged installation that refuses to look away from the realities of sexual trauma. Exhibited in full at Zauhouse Gallery in 2018, the work remains a powerful example of how contemporary sculpture can intersect with activism, community engagement, and feminist politics.

Through its four sculptural forms, the exhibition traces a compelling arc—from violation to recovery—inviting audiences to witness, reflect, and act. As part of Alison Little’s wider campaign work, the installation continues to contribute to conversations around gender‑based violence, resilience, and the transformative power of art.

📚 Books on Feminism, Trauma & Consent

Highly relevant to readers engaging with the themes:

• Know My Name

• Men Who Hate Women

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