Sophie Gray

‘The most prevalent, insidious forms of violence are those that cannot be seen.’

- Jacqueline Rose (2021)

Through a series of black and white images, accompanied by a soundtrack compiled from sounds of the night, This World Is Not Built For Us explores the visceral experience of what it is to be a woman navigating the city after dark.

Walking down city streets, women can find themselves subject to harassment and intimidation in ways that expose their vulnerability and remind them just how easily their right to move freely in the world can be undermined. Understanding the potential dangers that exist even in the most public of spaces, women will too often restrict their movements, particularly at night; for what may seem innocuous and insignificant during the daytime can carry the threat of potential violence after dark. Every sound, every shadow, every movement is amplified to a point of unsettling discomfort.

The current project seeks to explore and reflect the ways in which women experience the city, acting as a counter to the fear; simultaneously acknowledging its existence and challenging its power.