09/06/2026
“Ink Fades But Scars Remain”
My artwork created for the first edition of “Women in Street Art” at
This piece is about violence against women.
Some time ago, there was a story in the Dutch news about a woman who had been tattooed more than 250 times by her ex-partner against her will. A form of psychological abuse that often remains invisible, but in her case became visible through the tattoos on her face. Yet even then, people rarely questioned her story or recognized the abuse behind it.
A few months ago, I also witnessed a woman being assaulted by a man in an alleyway. We tried to help her. She looked terrified, but when the man started coming after us, we had to make sure we got ourselves to safety. We called law enforcement and the police, but because they did not catch him in the act, no action was taken. We were eyewitnesses, almost victims ourselves, and still nothing happened. It is something that still makes me incredibly angry.
Fortunately, femicide is becoming a more openly discussed topic in the Netherlands, but too often the conversation only starts when it is already too late for someone.
During this exhibition at the STRAAT Museum—an exhibition that placed women at its center—I found the perfect opportunity to develop an idea I had been carrying with me for a long time. Through this work, I hope to raise awareness and encourage people to step in when they suspect something is wrong, or simply ask someone how they are really doing.
To men, I want to show that violence against women happens far more often than many realize. Just consider how many women feel unsafe walking alone at night.
The facial tattoos in this artwork symbolize the real scars that victims carry with them for the rest of their lives. They represent the invisible wounds, the lasting impact, and the consequences that far too many women are forced to endure.
Even when the tattoos are removed, the scars remain.
That is why this piece is called:
“Ink Fades But Scars Remain.”