STORY OF A GIRL

This April marks the 20th Anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness month, and Mya Nichol’s debut solo show, Story of a Girl at Chinatown Soup. Inspired by artists Helmut Newton and Barbara Kruger, this photo series shares an intimate reflection on womanhood and sex in the modern world.

Through nine photographic works, Story of a Girl follows a young woman growing up in a small town. Sharing ‘the girl’s’ story of sexual abuse through the artist’s eyes, Mya Nichol painted direct quotes and censored her subject’s body to show the detrimental way in which sexual violence is often perceived. Each photograph is a chapter, reflecting on specific experiences, raw emotions, and confusing responses faced as a result of opening up.

“I believe we have come to an extremely unhealthy place. When discussing sexual assault, we tend to place the blame on women by asking, ‘what were you wearing? Were you drinking? Why did you go to that party?’ It's never about the man who abused her”, the artist quotes.

Mya Nichol hopes Story of a Girl serves as a reminder that sexual assault will remain a problem unless we change our outlook. This exhibition hopes to enable men to look at how their actions, language, and perceptions of women and their bodies play a role in sexual violence, and in doing so, provide an open space for more women to unapologetically share their stories.

Mya Nichol (b. 2001) lives and works in New York City. Having grown up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, she sought more opportunities for her photography in a thriving art community. Her works focus on portraiture, a medium that she believes is best at expressing the human experience. While currently experimenting with other media, Mya Nichol is known for her ability to illuminate stories and emotion with a single snap of her camera.