Keeley Bonnell

This Body is My Body is a profound exploration of bodily and psychological reclamation following sexual assault. It examines the process of skin regeneration in the aftermath of trauma, while also questioning societal perceptions imposed upon the body and how we stretch and survive within these often restrictive narratives.

Through the visceral physicalisation of her own body — stretched in latex across handmade maple wooden frames, and anchored at points where the body meets the support — Bonnell powerfully confronts themes of self-authority and resilience. The piece embodies a reclaiming of agency, asserting control over one’s body after the loss of autonomy and transforming exposure into a form of protest.

Rooted in themes of empowerment, This Body is My Body challenges the shame often associated with trauma, instead celebrating the body as a site of strength and resistance. Bonnell’s work invites reflection on the resilience of the human spirit and the ongoing journey towards reclaiming oneself.