More than Skin Deep is a campaign that is raising awareness to support the abolition of acid attacks against women, showcasing true stories of fifteen fearless survivors from around the world. The campaign also explores how these women managed to thrive and create rewarding lives for themselves after such horrific attacks.  You can read more about the project here.

As strategy and engagement partner for the project, we wanted to learn more about this amazing campaign from the two fabulous women behind the project; poet, Claire Rosslyn Wilson and artist, Debasmita Dasgupta. 

Claire Rosslyn Wilson is a poet, researcher and international cultural manager, with particular interests in cultural diversity and creative expression for social change. She is the poetry editor for the human rights journal Right Now and has presented her creative work at a number of writers’ festivals and journals. 

Debasmita Dasgupta is a Singapore-based internationally-published Kirkus Prize-nominated picture-book ​​​illustrator and a graphic novel artist. Widely known as an art-for-change ​​​advocate, she tells ​stories of change makers from around the world partnering ​with global non-profits.

We asked them a series of questions. You can read their answers below.

Explain the project briefly

Debasmita: ​#MoreThanSkinDeep is a series of illustrated poems that brings to the ​​​forefront stories of #FifteenFearless women who are much more than their scars.

How did the idea for this project come about?

Debasmita: ​I created and shared an illustration about Monica Singh and her father ​​on the My Father illustrations Facebook page. Her story was an inspiration to ​​me and the beginning of #MoreThanSkinDeep.

Why did you want to work on this project together?

Debasmita: ​Claire and I have known each other for nearly a decade. We are familiar with ​​each other’s work, our views of life and always wanted to do some meaningful ​projects together where marrying her words with my visuals could create some ​​impact.

Claire: Debasmita proposed this project and I was immediately inspired by the stories of the women and the potential it had to creatively raise awareness of such an important issue – I had followed her work for a while and I think the illustrations are a beautiful counterpoint to the words; showing the beauty within.

How big is this problem?

Debasmita: ​Every 6 hours someone is attacked by acid.

What is a common misconception about acid attack survivors?

Debasmita: The biggest misconception is that they have no future; that their lives are ruined. ​​However, many of them are great achievers and an inspiration to many.

What have you learnt about acid attack survivors through this project?

Claire: I have learnt that irrational hate or greed has no bounds, but that the human spirit is capable of amazing strength. The women profiled in #MorethanSkinDeep have made their own path after the attacks, not letting one event define who they are.

What about this project inspires you?

Claire: I’m inspired by the strength of the women to persist in the face of such injustice. Working on the project has also hardened my resolve to be more outspoken about gender inequality; we must all do more before it turns into such a horrific situation.

How did you learn about the particular issues with these women?

Claire: Once I started looking I realised that these attacks were heartbreakingly more common than I realised. I read as much as I could from testimonials and learnt a lot about the diverse ways women found the resolve to continue to pursue their aspirations and dreams.

What outcome do you hope for from this project?

Debasmita: Know these epic #FifteenFearless stories.  Get inspired.  ​Challenge beauty stereotypes.

Where do people go if they want more information or would like to get involved in some way?

Debasmita: ​For more information, you can look here

Claire: Acid Survivors Trust International is a good place to start for more information.  

  You can read more of our artists interviews and blogposts here or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Creative Arts Social is a not for profit organisation. We believe art is for everyone.  We all have the creative potential to understand and connect with and benefit from the arts.  For more information about the work we do, press here.

 

 

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